asked the Minister for Local Government if his attention has been drawn to a report of a court case in which it was stated that under the relevant regulation the owner of a vehicle was not liable for the vehicle's bald tyres; if he will state the relevant regulation; whether it was made by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Vehicle Tyres.
16.
The relevant regulations in this case are the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations, 1963, which I made under the Road Traffic Act, 1961. Sub-article (7) of article 16 of these regulations provides that no tyre used on a vehicle shall be excessively worn. Article 6 of the regulations provides that where a vehicle contravening that provision is used on a public road by a person who is not the owner of the vehicle such owner shall also be guilty of an offence. Paragraph (b) of subsection (5) of section 11 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961 provides that it shall be a good defence for the owner in such a case to show that the use of the vehicle on the occasion in question was unauthorised.
I have no comment to make on the court decision.
Question No. 17 postponed.