Vol. 414 No. 4
167 Mr. J. Bruton, Mr. J. Mitchell, Miss Flaherty, Mr. Connor and Mr. Carey asked the Minister for the Environment if the EC has recently reached agreement on comprehensive standards for cars which will reduce pollution per vehicle by 80 per cent; and if he will outline the steps he proposes to take to enforce this in Ireland.
206 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Environment if he will outline the action he intends to take, under EC directives, on the control of emissions from motor vehicles with particular reference to imported new and secondhand vehicles which do not meet the required standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 206 together.
Two Council Directives relating to measures to be taken against emissions from motor vehicle exhausts were adopted this year: Directive 91/441/EEC of 26 June dealing with all petrol engined vehicles and some diesel engined small vehicles and Directive 91/542/EEC of 1 October covering diesel engined vehicles generally.
A discussion paper on "Implementation of EC Vehicle Emission Standards in Ireland" was published in July 1991 by my Department. This explained the requirements of these and earlier relevent directives, proposed arrangements for their implementation, and sought comment from interested parties. The considerable number of comments received on the discussion paper are being taken into account in formulating regulations to transpose the directives into Irish law. It is intended that these regulations will be made shortly.
