As part of a delegation Deputy Doyle explored the potential of a pan-EU investment plan to stimulate economic activity to the benefit of communities across Ireland. The delegation, comprising a number of Committee members including Andrew Doyle TD (Agriculture Committee Chair) and, met informally with EU Commissioner Jyrki Katainen, European Commission Vice-President for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness in Leinster House. The European Investment Plan, which is being spearheaded by Commissioner Katainen, is designed as a package of measures to unlock public and private investments in the real economy of at least €315 billion from 2015 to 2017. The meeting according to Andrew Doyle TD, Agriculture Committee Chair was a valuable opportunity for the cross-party Committee to impress on the Commissioner the need for such a stimulus to cement Ireland’s recovery: “In welcoming the Investment Plan, we strongly pushed the urgent need for such investment in infrastructure in strategic sectors – including transport, energy and the digital economy – to boost economic growth and domestic demand nationwide. The Investment Plan for Europe identifies 1,000 potential investment opportunities, with a particular emphasis on improving vital infrastructure for Europe’s citizens following the financial constraints of recent years. As such, we impressed on Commissioner Katainen the years of underinvestment in capital projects since the economic crisis here.” “I wish to thank Commissioner Katainen for an open discussion on EU Investment plans and how best to position Ireland and Wicklow to benefit from the public and private collaborative investment.” Commented Doyle
Foreign Affairs
Driving licence exchange agreement between Ireland and Manitoba is great news for Irish expat population
Fine Gael TD for Wicklow/East Carlow, Andrew Doyle, has today (Saturday) welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe of an agreement which allows for the mutual exchange of driving licences between Ireland and the Canadian province of Manitoba.
“Having made extensive representations on behalf of the many Irish people living in Canada, I am delighted by this announcement. The decision to facilitate the mutual exchange of driving licences for both Irish people living in Canada and Canadian people living here will make a big difference to those affected by this development.
“The agreement provides that the holder of a full Irish driving licence can automatically exchange this licence for a Manitoba licence if they are resident in the province of Manitoba. The reverse will apply also where the holder of a valid Manitoba licence, resident in this country, can exchange their licence for an Irish driving licence without the need to undergo a driving test. This will be of enormous benefit to the many Irish citizens currently living and working in Manitoba, as well as to people from Manitoba now living and working in Ireland.
“This is great news for the many Irish people living and working in Manitoba who have contacted me in the past in relation to this issue. Irish people living in Manitoba, will be now be able to exchange their Irish driving licences for Manitoba licences directly, rather than beginning as learner drivers in Manitoba.
“The process of reaching this agreement involved a great deal of work, and I would like to acknowledge the efforts of all those who have made the agreement possible including the Minister for Transport, Paschal Donohoe, the Road Safety Authority and the Irish Embassy in Canada, as well as the authorities in Manitoba.”