Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 247: To ask the Minister for Transport the reason a car can pass the national car test but be refused as unroadworthy for use during a driving test on the basis of a faulty airbag light. [6926/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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A check on airbags is not part of the NCT. Neither EU Directive 96/96/EC relating to the roadworthiness testing of motor vehicles nor the Road Traffic (National Car Testing) Regulations 2003, which govern the NCT, provide for the inspection of airbags. As an employer, my Department has a responsibility to take reasonable measures to ensure the safety of staff. Where a system warning light flashes in a motor car, this is indicative of a potential problem. In such a case, the driver tester is advised not to conduct the driving test. Test candidates are informed in the leaflet, Final Checks for your Driving Test, which issues with the letter of appointment for the driving test, that where a system warning light is flashing in the vehicle, the test will not be conducted.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 248: To ask the Minister for Transport the reason the car of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 10 passed the NCT one year but failed the next year for an incorrect number plate which was on it all along. [6927/05]

Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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An NCT certificate was refused for this vehicle on 16 October 2004 because the registration plates did not comply with the relevant legal requirements. It is understood from National Car Testing Service Limited that the registration plates did not show the placename of the licensing authority, namely Cill Mhantáin. Following a visual retest of the vehicle on 19 October 2004, an NCT certificate was issued for the vehicle. No fee was charged by the company as the retest did not require the use of a test lane.

Until 14 September 2003, registration plates were classified as a "fail advisory" item and failure to comply with the legal requirements for them was not a reason for refusal of a NCT certificate. For that reason, it was possible to issue a test certificate in 2002 for the vehicle in question but the owner should have been advised at the time of the need to rectify the defect.