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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 2 Apr 2003

Vol. 564 No. 2

Written Answers - Road Safety.

Brendan Smith

Question:

204 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Transport the proposals there are to make compulsory the provision of airbags in all imported vehicles in view of the date available from a study in the USA regarding the value of such a safety device in vehicles in reducing injuries when accidents occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9197/03]

All new cars sold in the European Union must have whole vehicle type approval, WVTA. WVTA requires cars to meet the requirements set out in a series of separate directives of which there are currently 50 which, inter alia, set out mandatory safety protection standards. The standards specified in these type approval directives have been adopted at EU level following extensive consultation with vehicle manufacturing interests and with member states. Vehicles with such approval cannot be refused access to the market in the EU.

Under Directive 98/34/EEC which deals with technical standards and regulations European member states are not free to unilaterally introduce requirements that would be additional to those requirements set out in the directives. Consequently, I have no proposals to require the provision of airbags in vehicles.
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