Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Jun 1998

Vol. 493 No. 3

Written Answers. - Motor Vehicle Registration.

Seán Haughey

Question:

320 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will exempt kit-cars and specialist cars built with new and second hand parts from the need to have a certificate of conformity before registration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15973/98]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Molloy)

The European Communities (Mechanically Propelled Vehicle Emission Control) Regulations, 1995 (S. I. No. 192 of 1995) provide that a licensing authority may not issue first licences for certain new vehicles, including passenger cars, unless each application for such a licence includes a declaration by the vehicle manufacturer or its authorised representative that a certificate of conformity with the air pollutant emission stardards specified in Directive 94/12/EC has been issued by the manufacturer in respect of the vehicle.

The European Communities (Mechanically Propelled Vehicle Entry into Service) Regulations, 1998 (S. I. No. 211 of 1998) which transpose the entry into service requirement of Directive 93/81/EC into Irish law will replace the earlier regulations with effect from 1 October 1998. Directive 93/81/EC requires member states to prohibit the entry into service of new passenger cars which are not accompanied by valid certificates of conformity with relevant EU standards.

The new regulations require that the declaration to the Revenue Commissioners for first registration of all new cars must include such certificates of conformity. The regulations do not apply to previously registered cars. It is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners to determine whether a vehicle is a new car in accordance with the regulations.

Under the terms of the directive in question it is open to a member state to consider making exemptions to the general requirement to provide certificates of conformity in certain limited circumstances and subject to the agreement of other member states. A prerequisite for consideration of any such application for a particular vehicle type in Ireland would be satisfactory independent evidence that the vehicle type in question met acceptable standards for road safety and environmental protection.