Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 October 2017
462. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the regulatory environment that is applicable under his Department's remit regarding agricultural vehicles of all types, including trailers, quads, tractors, machinery and agricultural equipment such as sprayers and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41589/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is the competent national authority for the provisions of Council Regulation No. 167/2013 on the approval and market surveillance of agricultural and forestry vehicles.
Regulation (EU) 167/2013 applies to the design and construction standards for agricultural and forestry vehicles, and to systems, components and separate technical units, as well as parts and equipment, designed and constructed for such vehicles.
Specifically, this Regulation applies to the following categories of vehicles: namely (i) tractors (classified based on EU criteria as either categories T and C) ranging from common farming tractors to more specialised vehicles such as tracked forestry tractors; (ii) trailers (category R); and (iii) interchangeable towed equipment (category S) such as balers and slurry tankers.
Regulation 167/2013 does not apply to interchangeable machinery that is fully raised from the ground, for example a plough, or that cannot articulate around a vertical axis when the vehicle to which it is attached is in use on a road.
The new regulatory framework recognises that more and more agricultural vehicles are now widely used on our roads and while built to very high standards it is vital that European Union legislative regimes implemented by Member States recognised and take account of the developments in agricultural vehicle technology. These criteria ensure that in both design and construction, such vehicles comply with the highest standards in relation to a number of key safety areas for both operators and the public.
