Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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281. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on mutual recognition of Irish driving licences with all the Canadian provinces and territories; the current status of Irish driving licence recognition for Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Manitoba, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut; if he will provide an update on activities by the Road Safety Authority and the embassy of Ireland in Ottawa on having Irish driving licences recognised and setting up a reciprocal recognition scheme between each jurisdictions where recognition is not yet established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9912/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Negotiations with the Canadian provinces on mutual recognition of diving licences are being dealt with by the Road Safety Authority (RSA), which has statutory responsibility for driver licensing in Ireland. The RSA informs me that agreement is close to being finalised with Manitoba, Ontario and Newfoundland & Labrador.  It was decided at an early stage to prioritise Ontario due to the large number of Irish residents there.  When agreement is reached, the RSA will conclude formal agreements, in the form of Memoranda of Understanding, with each of those Provinces.  I will then introduce regulations to give effect to the changes. Negotiations are at various stages with other provinces.