Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 26: To ask the Minister for Finance the way in which number plate providers are regulated here; his plans to introduce registration and monitoring of such providers to allow for the greater enforcement of road traffic law and to curb crime. [9197/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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With regard to car registration regulation, the Revenue Commissioners are the vehicle registration authority in the State. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the owner-driver of a vehicle is responsible for ensuring that his or her vehicle registration plates comply with the law and it is an offence under section 139(1)(b) of the Finance Act 1992 to be in possession of a vehicle displaying a vehicle registration plate in a format other than as prescribed. The format, dimensions and technical specifications of identification marks — vehicle registration plates — to be displayed on vehicles in the State are set out in SI 318 of 1992 as amended by SI 432 of 1999. These regulations are well known and widely understood by the motor trade.

The Deputy may wish to note that Revenue mobile units and the Garda Síochána are actively engaged in the detection of vehicles displaying non-conforming registration plates and that the Department of Transport, which has responsibility for the provision of the national car test, rates such display as a failure in the test. At present, there are no plans to impose further regulatory control in this area, such as by regulating the providers of the number plates.