Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 55: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of defective vehicles that have been identified and recalled on Irish roads in the past year; if he has action taken at EU level or if he has directly contacted the Irish vendors of car manufacturers regarding the ongoing problem of vehicles with car defects being sold on the Irish market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26844/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Manufacturers and distributors, who wish to recall vehicles due to defects which could endanger the safety of road users, seek assistance and relevant data from the National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) of my Department in their efforts to contact registered owners. In the period from 1 June, 2009 to 31 May, 2010 the NVDF provided details on 163,495 vehicles covering 86 recall events.

Not all vehicles for which details are provided may be subjected to recall because the manufacturer may determine that they are not affected. There may also be some recall events, particularly in the case of newer vehicles, where NVDF data is not requested from my Department because manufacturers' own records have up to date ownership particulars. All recalled vehicles must have had EC Whole Vehicle Type Approval in order to have been registered in Ireland or in any EU Member States. The Type Approval system sets minimum standards and testing processes which vehicles must comply with in order to be sold in the EU. The tests cover minimum safety, environmental and construction standards.

In addition to the system of Whole Vehicle Type Approval, EU Directive 2001/95/EC relating to general product safety provides a high level of consumer protection, with robust systems provided for between Member States to allow monitoring of vehicle manufacturing, enforcement of standards and sharing of knowledge between Member States. These measures allow Member States to order or organise, immediately and efficiently, the withdrawal / recall of unsafe products already placed on the market. The National Consumer Agency informs the public of recalled products. Its website contains details of the products and the nature of the faults or defects.