asked the Minister for Labour if he will make a statement on the latest position regarding the implementation in this country of EEC regulations governing the installation of tachographs in commercial vehicles.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tachograph Installation.
14.
The EEC social regulations for transport include provisions regarding the installation of tachographs in commercial vehicles covered by these regulations. The purpose of the tachograph is to facilitate the enforcement of the regulations governing such matters as hours of driving, breaks from work and rest periods.
Installation of tachographs in vehicles engaged in international transport has been required under the EEC regulations since the 1st January, 1976. Draft regulations to be made under the European Communities Act, 1972, for enforcement of this requirement in Ireland have been submitted to the EEC Commission for clearance, and correspondence with the Commission in the matter has not been completed.
Various changes in the social regulations applying primarily to national transport, including changes relating to the installation of tachographs have been under discussion by the Council of Transport Ministers for some time past. Decisions on these changes were reached at the Council meeting of the 27th October last which, inter alia, included the approval of a clause which empowers the Commission to give Ireland a further period of up to three years after the 1st January, 1978, to phase in the driving periods and so on laid down in the regulations. The situation as to the installation of tachographs in vehicles covered by the regulations which are engaged in national transport is now as follows:—
At the present time tachographs should be installed in newly registered vehicles and those engaged in carriage of dangerous substances.
As from the 1st January, 1978, tachographs should be installed in vehicles covered by the regulations except for those engaged in transport within 50 kilometres of base and those between 3.5 and 6 metric tons fully laden; these exceptions will cease as from the 1st July, 1979.
As from the 1st January, 1980, all vehicles coming within the regulations should have installed an EEC-type approved tachograph.
The regulations, as amended under the decisions taken on the 27th October last, exclude certain limited categories of vehicles from the tachograph requirement and other limited categories can be excluded after consultation with the Commission or after authorisation by the Commission.