Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 316: To ask the Minister for Transport if while continuing to campaign for a European Directive on the matter, he will take whatever steps are necessary here to require all trucks to have a mirror installed to ensure that the driver does not have a blind spot, the type of which has caused the death of many pedestrians and cyclists in recent years, in order to pass their annual roadworthiness test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15969/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I refer the Deputy to Priority Question 65 answered on Wednesday 3 May 2006, which was as follows.

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 and requires that all new vehicles meet the new standards. The Directive was transposed into Irish law by the European Communities (Mechanically Propelled Vehicles Entry Into Service) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2004 as regards type approval and entry into service of vehicles.

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 (IRHA), 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 were 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. The IRHA responded positively indicating that for the past number of years it has actively encouraged its members to fit convex mirrors to their vehicles and to request these when acquiring new vehicles. SIMI also responded positively indicating that Vehicle Distributors had agreed to the fitting of these enhanced mirrors to new vehicles before they become a legal requirement in January 2007. In that regard, SIMI anticipated that, by the end of March 2006, 80% of new vehicles of the relevant categories would meet the requirements of the Directive with all new vehicles so complying by the end of October 2006.

In accordance with Directive 96/96/EC, HGVs are first liable to roadworthiness when they are 1 year old. As the fitment of mirrors in accordance with Directive 2003/97/EC does not become mandatory until 26 January 2007, it would not be possible to check HGVs for these mirrors during the annual roadworthiness test until after 26 January 2008 and then only in relation to HGVs whose registration required that they be fitted with mirrors in accordance with the requirements of Directive 2003/97.

On 12 April 2006 the European Commission published a consultation paper on the fitting of blind-spot mirrors to existing HGVs with a view to possibly bringing forward proposals for a directive on the matter. I welcome this development and intend to respond to the European Commission indicating that Ireland would be in favour of EU action on the issue. I will await the outcome of the Commission's consideration of this matter before proceeding on the development of national legislation in this area.