Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 56: To ask the Minister for Transport when his proposals to deal with untaxed and uninsured cars, both Irish and international, will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9078/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I will bring forward legislation in the current Dáil session to deal with a number of road safety issues including making a change to the legislation to allow the Garda Síochána to impound uninsured vehicles that are registered outside the State. It is an offence to drive an uninsured vehicle in a public place regardless of where it is registered. I remind the House that all victims of uninsured driving are compensated by the Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland.

Under section 41 of the Road Traffic Act 1994, untaxed vehicles registered in the State may be impounded. Foreign vehicles do not come within the provisions of motor tax legislation, by virtue of EU Directive 83/182 and there are no plans to change the directive. However, the Revenue Commissioners and the Garda Síochána enforce the law in relation to the importation of foreign vehicles into the State.