Batt O'Keeffe
Question:72 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Environment if he intends to insist on motorists using lead-free petrol and having a catalytic converter fitted to their cars.
Written Answers. - Use of Unleaded Petrol.
Use of unleaded petrol and the fitting of catalytic converters are, in effect, mandatory for all new petrol-engined vehicles by virtue of the European Communities (Mechanically Propelled Vehicle Emission Control) Regulations, 1992.
Many older vehicles, while not fitted with catalysers, are capable of running on unleaded petrol. Promotion of unleaded, both by Government and industry, has resulted in its attaining a market share in Ireland — advanced in EU terms — of some 40 per cent by end 1993.
I have no proposal to make mandatory the use of unleaded petrol or the retro-fitting of catalytic converters to cars not already so equipped, nor am I aware of such requirements being adopted in other countries.