Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 353: To ask the Minister for Transport when his Department first received representations from an association (details supplied) for the provision of the mandatory fitting of so-called cyclops mirrors as part of his Department's test on commercial vehicles; his response to same; and the action he intends taking to provide for such a measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4303/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Directive 2003/97 lays down new standards for the type approval of certain categories of vehicles, particularly lorries, in relation to the field of vision of drivers. While the directive's provisions do not become compulsory until 26 January 2007, and then only in relation to new vehicles, I have sought to have these higher standard mirrors fitted to existing HGVs on a voluntary basis. In that regard, in April 2005, the Irish Road Haulage Association, the Society of the Irish Motor Industry, SIMI, and the Irish Business and Employers Confederation were requested to consider advising their members to retrofit vehicles with blind spot mirrors or indirect vision devices. SIMI was also asked that, in advance of the 26 January 2007 deadline for new vehicles, all new HGVs being put on the market meet the higher standards required by Directive 2003/97/EC.

It is only after 26 January 2007 when the fitting of such mirrors on HGVs becomes mandatory that it would be possible to check vehicles for these mirrors during the annual roadworthiness test.

There is no record in my Department of representations having been received from this association in relation to roadworthiness testing of vehicles for the purposes of determining whether so-called cyclops mirrors have been fitted.