EU Directives

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 June 2013

Tuesday, 18 June 2013

Questions (449)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

449. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will detail his action following on from Commission Directive 2012/24/EU of 8 October 2012 amending, for the purpose of adapting its technical provisions, Council Directive 86/297/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the power take-offs of tractors and their protection; if he will detail the contents of the Directive and the implications it has for Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29052/13]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Commission Directive 2012/24/EU amending the technical provisions of Council Directive 86/297/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the power take-offs (PTO’s) of tractors and their protection was published on the 8 October 2012. Member States have until 31 October 2013 to adopt the obligations of this Directive and my Department is currently preparing secondary legislation to give effect to these requirements.

Directive 86/297/EEC laid down technical dimensions and clearance zones around PTO’s. However, as tractor design has moved on considerably since that Directive was introduced in 1986, the location imposed by it is not compatible with several newer tractor models. The amending Directive 2012/24/EU updates the old specifications and makes provision for front PTO’s as laid down in ISO 8759-1:1998 (with the exception of clause 4.2). This will make the specification more practical for modern tractors. This amended legislation applies only in Member States that manufacture or type-approve tractors and so will have little or any implications for Ireland.