Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 99: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on the use of black-box technology, speed limiters and driving training simulators to enhance road safety; if his Department will finance the introduction of such technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9103/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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In recent days, the EU Commission has forwarded to the Council of Ministers a communication on the intelligent car initiative entitled Raising Awareness for ICT of Smarter, Safer and Cleaner vehicles. This communication invites member states to support the objectives in the communication and stresses the need for member states to act together at the European level. The intelligent car initiative is intended as a policy framework for advancing, inter alia, eSafety.

As part of the eSafety initiative, my Department is currently participating in EU initiatives to promote the use of technology in advancing vehicle safety. The EU initiatives also involve participation by vehicle manufacturers and insurance companies and in this regard my Department is currently in touch with the insurance industry and the SIMI. My Department is also in touch with other Departments which are involved — the Departments of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Finance and Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.

Some of the major challenges in advancing such systems is settling on a European-wide technology basis and determining whether the obligation to fit the technology becomes a requirement on industry. No decisions have yet been made in that regard.