Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 December 2020
146. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport his plans to introduce laundered diesel testing as a core component of the NCT and DOE road tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41375/20]
View answerAll Member States of the European Union are required by law to carry out periodic roadworthiness inspections on motor vehicles at regular intervals throughout the vehicle's lifecycle. As part of the National Car Test (NCT) and the Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness Test (CVRT), the items to be tested and the reasons for failing a test for are governed by European legislation and are set out in Annex I of Directive 2014/45/EU.
These requirements have been transposed by the Road Traffic (National Car Test) Regulations 2017 (S.I. No. 415 of 2017) and the Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness (Vehicle Testing) (No. 2) Regulations 2013 (S.I. No. 347 of 2013). Vehicle roadworthiness is a cornerstone of road safety policy and plays an important role in reducing road accidents and fatalities on public roads.
The Deputy may wish to note that tackling the illegal use of marked gas oil (laundered or 'green' diesel) is the responsibility of the Revenue Commissioners and as such I do not anticipate such enforcement being incorporated into the current roadworthiness testing regimes.
