John Bruton
Ceist:544 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the steps, if any, he will take to deal with the damage caused by diesel, leaded petrol and unleaded petrol fumes. [17557/99]
Written Answers. - Motor Vehicle Emissions.
John Gormley
Ceist:565 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans, if any, he has to introduce legislation to ensure that vehicle emissions come under the remit of the Air Pollution Act, 1987; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that vehicle emissions are regulated by the Road Traffic Act and that there have been no prosecutions to date; his views on whether a sustainability strategy and the polluter pays principle demand that this matter be tackled by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18482/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 544 and 565 together.
Under article 30 of the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use) Regulations 1963 – SI No. 190 of 1963, made under the Road Traffic Act, 1961 – vehicles are required to be so constructed so as to prevent the emission of air pollutants to the extent reasonably possible. Progressively more stringent vehicle emission control standards have been incorporated into Irish legislation by way of the European Communities (Mechanically Propelled Vehicles Emission Control) Regulations, 1992 to 1998 (SI Nos. 363 of 1992, 363 of 1993, 194 of 1994, 192 of 1995, 318 of 1996, 382 of 1996, 518 of 1997, 211 of 1998, 356 of 1998), made under the European Communities Act, 1972 (No. 27 of 1972).
The Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992 (Control of Volatile Organic Compound Emissions Resulting from Petrol Storage and Distribution) Regulations, 1997 (SI No. 374 of 1997) and the Air Pollution Act, 1987 (Petroleum Vapour Emissions) Regulations, 1997 (SI No. 375 of 1997) transpose Council Directive 94/63/EC to introduce controls on volatile organic compound emissions resulting from petrol storage and distribution at terminals and from the storage and distribution of petrol which is intended for use as a fuel for motor vehicles, respectively.
My Department is currently drafting regulations to transpose Council Directives 98/69/EC amending Directive 70/220/EEC relating to measures to be taken against air pollution by emissions from motor vehicles, and 98/70/EC amending Directive 93/12/EEC relating to the quality of petrol and diesel fuels, into national legislation. These regulations will strengthen current vehicle emission standards for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles and the environmental specifications for petrol and diesel fuels respectively.
In relation to the phasing out of the marketing of leaded petrol by 1 January 2000, my Department has written to all owners of pre-1986 petrol engined vehicles to inform them of the alternative options once leaded petrol is no longer available on the market. I have also launched a poster campaign in partnership with the Irish Petroleum Industry Association to alert the public to these options.
Roadworthiness testing of light and heavy goods vehicles and buses has been carried out since 1982. In accordance with the European Communities (Vehicle Testing) Regulations 1991, as amended, (SI No. 356 of 1991), a vehicle which does not meet the prescribed emission standards is not issued with a test certificate; it is an offence to use a goods vehicle in a public place unless a valid test certificate is in force for the vehicle. Motor tax offices do not issue a tax disc for a liable vehicle unless a valid test certificate is in force for the vehicle.
On 4 January 2000 mandatory road worthiness testing of passenger cars, in accordance with the Road Traffic (Car Testing) Regulations 1998 (SI No. 481 of 1998), will commence on a phased basis relating to the age of the vehicles; older vehicles will be tested first. The test parameters include age-related emission standards for air pollutants. The regulations include a requirement on motor tax offices not to issue a tax disc for a liable vehicle in the absence of a valid test certificate. Enforcement of the regulations will be a matter for the Garda Síochána.
I am satisfied that type approval requirements for the manufacture of vehicles, the specification of standards for petrol and diesel fuels, the controls on VOC emissions at fuel terminals and service stations, and the operational testing of vehicles provide a sufficient basis for controlling emissions and are adequately provided for under the current regulatory framework. I have no plans to introduce new requirements in this regard under the Air Pollution Act, 1987.