Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 October 2026
53. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she will report on her engagements with members and representative groups of the diaspora community; and if she has discussed driver licence exchange in such engagements. [69326/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra59. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she will report on the support she has provided the Department of Transport regarding the programme for Government commitment to work to facilitate the easier return to Ireland for emigrants including reciprocal driving licence arrangements with the USA, Australia and Canada. [69290/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra81. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the countries with which the State has reciprocal recognition of drivers licenses for the purposes of exchange, which her Department has provided assistance to the Department of Transport regarding; and the countries for with which they are currently providing assistance with a view to securing same. [69298/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 53, 59 and 81 together.
I launched Ireland’s third Diaspora Strategy covering the period 2026-2030 at the Global Irish Civic Forum on the 30th of April. In developing our new strategy, I led the largest ever consultation with the Irish abroad, including over 27 in-person meetings, including with Oireachtas members and the first ever online consultation, the Global Irish Survey, which ran throughout the summer of 2025.
The outcome of this extensive consultation process is a strategy that sets out 23 commitments built around the challenges and opportunities that were shared with us, including issues affecting those wishing to return to Ireland, such as PPS numbers, matters relating to non-EEA spouses, driving license exchange agreements and the recognition of qualifications. An Action Plan for the new Strategy will be published in the period ahead.
I meet with representatives of our diaspora around the world on an ongoing basis. There has been widespread welcome for our new strategy and these meetings provide a chance to discuss a range of issues of interest to our overseas communities including the Emigrant Support Programme, promoting our sports and culture, contributing to the Government's trade and economic priorities and issues relating to returning home.
Ireland currently has 21 reciprocal driving license agreements with other jurisdictions, namely Australia, 7 Canadian provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario and Saskatchewan), Georgia, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Isle Of Man, Japan, Jersey, Moldova, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Republic of Korea, South Africa, Switzerland, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.
An exchange agreement with Nova Scotia (the 8th of the 10 Canadian provinces) is currently being finalised.
More details on exchanging license including the categories that can be exchanged can be found on the Returning to Ireland Hub on the Citizens Information Board website – citizensinformation.ie. The Hub provides a wealth of practical information for anyone considering returning to Ireland.
In line with the Programme for Government, work is underway to support returning Irish emigrants from the US by establishing reciprocal driving licence exchange agreements. Responsibility for concluding such agreements lies with the Department of Transport and the Road Safety Authority (RSA).
In the case of the US, exchange agreements have to be concluded at State level and direct engagements are ongoing between the RSA and their counterparts in New York, Massachusetts and New Jersey.
There is widespread political commitment on both sides to delivering exchange agreements between Ireland and US states. Our Embassy and Consulates use suitable opportunities at political and administrative level to continue to stress the importance Ireland attaches to finalising these agreements. Our Ambassador to the US, for example, highlighted the matter when she spoke at the Massachusetts Ireland Trade Commission earlier this year.
I have met the Irish–US Driver’s Licence Exchange Committee on a number of occasions, most recently at the Global Irish Civic Forum in April.
