Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 52: To ask the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 65 of 3 May 2006, the EU Directive or other legislative measure that prevents him from requiring the retrofitting of blind-spot mirrors to heavy goods vehicles in advance of an EU Directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17534/06]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Under EU law, it is not permissible for a Member State to unilaterally implement regulations of a technical standards nature. In accordance with Directive 98/34/EC (as amended by Directive 98/43/EC), which lays down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations, Member States are required to notify the European Commission and other Member States of their intention to make technical regulations and to provide the Commission and other Member States with the draft proposals for examination. The Member State must refrain from adopting the draft regulations for at least 3 months while they are being examined. This period can be extended to up to 18 months where the measure in question is likely to create unjustified barriers to trade or where work is in progress at Community level in the area covered by the notified draft. As indicated in my reply to Question No. 65 of 3 May 2006, 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 bringing forward proposals for a directive on the matter.

I appreciate the efforts being made by the Irish Road Haulage Association, SIMI, and IBEC to call on their members to retrofit new vehicles. In the event of any delay after the consultation process, I will review the matter further.