James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator and I have carefully noted what he said. The argument is well made and I will be certainly happy to take that away and to do further analysis on it. I will ask the RSA to provide further detail on the analysis it undertook.

I note also with interest that the Senator suggested that a Canadian province licence is compatible where there is perhaps an exchange agreement with the United States. Someone could therefore have an United States licence, converted to a Canadian licence, converted to an Irish licence under these agreements. I will have to investigate that to see if that is correct and if it is, it would certainly seem to be something that is capable of being explored further.

The Government's focus on reciprocal agreements at the moment is targeted largely at identifying states that may be a source of drivers and even mechanics into the industry, as we have a shortage of drivers and mechanics both in buses and heavy goods vehicles, HGVs, at the moment. I met with Dublin Bus representatives recently and they impressed upon me its challenge in recruiting mechanics and Haulage sector representatives would comment similarly. That is why often in the Houses when we have debates on public transport, bus reliability, and so forth, part of that debate goes back to the difficulty in obtaining both drivers and mechanics. The focus is on identifying states outside the EU that may have a pool of talent available in those skill sets and that is where the primary focus is at the moment.

Notwithstanding that, it is absolutely possible, where the Senator gave an example of the good offices of the former ambassador, H.E. Ray Bassett in Canada, where there are now seven of the ten provinces in an agreement and with an eighth province under way. Such progress is possible.

I am happy to work with him on this going forward and I thank him for his contribution.