Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Mar 2003

Vol. 563 No. 4

Written Answers - EU Directives.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

520 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Transport the way in which his Department is implementing Directive 2000/30/EC; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this directive entered into effect on 10 August 2002; his views on the EU Commission's reasoned opinion in January 2003 following the failure of the Government to notify it of legislation implementing this directive; the number of random roadside safety checks of vehicles which have been carried out here since this directive entered into force; the reason Ireland is not in full compliance with this directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7943/03]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Brennan)

My Department has been examining the most appropriate arrangements for implementing Directive 2000/30/EC on random roadside inspections of motor vehicles in consultation with the Garda Síochána with a view to determining the most appropriate structures and systems to enable inspections to be carried out in accordance with the directive. I expect to be in a position to transpose Directive 2000/30/EC into Irish law shortly through the making of regulations under the European Communities Act 1972. In the reply to the reasoned opinion on 17 February 2003, the European Commission has been advised to that effect. Inspections in accordance with the directive must await the regulations. However, roadside roadworthiness inspections of vehicles have been carried out by my Department from time to time over the past three years as part of multi-agency road checks.