Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 213: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if it is the responsibility of the Garda to detect foreign registered cars which fail to re-register after 12 months here; the number of offenders detected for this offence in 2005 and 2006; the penalties which apply for this offence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4230/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Under Department of Finance legislation the registration of vehicles is the responsibility of the Revenue Commissioners.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that where a member of An Garda Síochána suspects that a vehicle has not been registered as required under the legislation the vehicle may be detained by the member until enquiries or investigations are carried out. I am further informed that An Garda Síochána detained under the provisions of the finance legislation and seized under the provisions of road traffic legislation 1,404 non-Irish registered vehicles in 2006 and 741 non-Irish registered vehicles in 2005. Statistics are not compiled in such a way as to distinguish between such vehicles seized under the provisions of finance legislation and road traffic legislation.

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that their officers, who are based at numerous locations in the State, carry out regular and ongoing checks to identify and deal with breaches of vehicle registration tax regulations in connection with the use of foreign registered vehicles in the State. They also periodically carry out co-ordinated national enforcement campaigns under finance legislation to detect infringements of the law in this area.