Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 580: To ask the Minister for Transport the laws and regulations which govern the fitting of exhaust systems to road vehicles, in particular to private cars; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many of the exhausts available for purchase and private fitting are designed to create excessive noise and increase speed performance; if the policy of the Government is to further tackle the problem of excessive noise and speed generated by these systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10811/05]

Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is a requirement for the registration and entry into service of new motor vehicles in the European Union that they have type approval in accordance with Directive 70/157/EEC, as amended by Directive 1999/101/EC, which sets down the permissible sound levels and exhaust systems for motor vehicles. Vehicle in-service standards are specified in the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations 1963, which require vehicles to be fitted with a silencer or other device that is suitable and sufficient for reducing to a reasonable level the noise caused by the escape of exhaust gases from the engine. An examination of the silencer to assess its effectiveness in reducing noise is part of the NCT and the roadworthiness test carried out on commercial vehicles. It is an offence to use in a public place a vehicle which causes excessive noise. Enforcement of the law in this regard is a matter for the Garda Síochána.