Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 134: To ask the Minister for Transport his plans to introduce legislation to allow for the provision and court sanctioning of an interlock system on certain vehicles to curb drink driving; if legal advice has been sought on providing same in legislation; if so, when; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3129/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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A matter that is relevant to vehicle-based technologies is that the regulatory framework for vehicle standards is set at European level through a harmonised system of motor vehicle type-approval. Standards for new passenger cars in the EU are specified in a range of EU type-approval directives that are incorporated into a system known as EU whole vehicle type approval, WVTA. WVTA facilitates the achievement of a single market for cars through harmonised safety and environmental standards. New cars must have WVTA in order to be placed on the market in the EU. Once a car has WVTA, it must be given access to the EU market and it is not open to a member state to unilaterally require additional equipment to be fitted in a car.

The inclusion in motor vehicles of technology of the type outlined by the Deputy is not required under the EU motor vehicle type-approval system. Accordingly, it would not be open to Ireland to require the installation of such equipment in motor vehicles.