Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 323: To ask the Minister for Transport the advantages, in terms of road safety, of the registration requirement for imported cars other than the VAT receipts to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18331/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has no function in relation to the registration of imported cars. This is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners. The advantage in terms of road safety of the registration of imported cars is that registration provides a unique identifier which facilitates the Gardai in the enforcement of traffic law.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 324: To ask the Minister for Transport the changes that will occur in terms of the investigation and research into the causes of road accidents under the proposed new Road Safety Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18382/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Road Safety Authority (RSA) will not have any formal involvement in the investigation of road collisions. The direct and immediate investigation of road accidents and their causes will continue to be primarily a matter for the Gardai. Where road conditions are a contributory factor the National Roads Authority, or the local authority, will also continue to investigate and to develop its programme in terms of potential improvements to road safety.

It is not intended that the RSA will be an investigative body, however it will have responsibility to collect, collate and analyse statistical data that will be supplied by each of the agencies involved. I would expect to see the results of such analysis reflected in future Road Safety Strategies. The RSA will also have a central role in conducting, commissioning and coordinating a broad range of road safety research functions.