asked the Minister for Local Government whether his Department have held any discussions with car manufacturers on the installation of safety belts; whether they require safety belt fittings to be installed in cars; and whether there is any machinery for consultation between his Department and car manufacturers to discuss safety devices in cars in general.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Car Safety Belts.
31.
Mr. O'Leary
It is the practice of my Department to consult car assemblers and other trade interests before making any important regulations regarding the construction, equipment and use of vehicles, and also to publish in advance proposals for such regulations for the views of the general public before preparing a final draft.
Consultation with assemblers and other interests was conducted in depth before the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations, 1963, were made, and likewise public comment was invited. In the process the question of making compulsory the fitting of seat belts was considered, but it was decided not to do so for the reasons set out in a public statement issued at the time. These reasons which are still valid, were outlined in reply to a question by Deputy Coughlan on 20th October last.
The Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations, 1965, made on 20th April, 1965 prescribe that all cars and station wagons first registered on or after 1st July, 1965, be equipped with seat belt anchorages, complying with a prescribed standard, for seat belts for use by persons in the front seats of the vehicle. Prior to the making of these regulations car assemblers were consulted and public comment invited in the usual way.
Apart from formal consultation on proposed regulations, adequate contact is available at all times between my Department and car assemblers and other interests on subjects of common interest such as safety devices.
Mr. O'Leary
The amplification system is nearly as bad as the heating system because there was a list of facts given in the reply of the Parliamentary Secretary which I did not catch. Could he tell me if there are consultations at the moment between his Department and the car manufacturers regarding general safety precautions in cars?
There are.