Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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237. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in view of the deteriorating road safety here, if he and his officials have engaged with the Irish motor industry to ensure that vehicles imported into Ireland meet the highest road safety standards in relation to all the fixtures on vehicles, including lights, brakes, wipers, seat belts, steering, vehicle body frame and composition. [2898/15]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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While I am disappointed with the increase in road fatalities over the past two years, I am satisfied that our current Road Safety Strategy, together with forthcoming legislation which will focus on drug driving, will allow Ireland to maintain progress in reducing fatalities and serious injuries on our roads.

Existing legal obligations combined with vehicle roadworthiness testing requirements ensure that vehicles driven on Ireland's road network are roadworthy.

All new vehicles imported into Ireland are required to comply with EU Type Approval requirements and hold a Certificate of Conformity before they can be registered.

With regard to the importation of second-hand vehicles into Ireland, passenger cars are subject to NCT testing requirements, while commercial vehicles are subject to the Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness testing regime currently in force within this State.

It is the legal responsibility of the owner/driver to ensure that their vehicle is maintained in a roadworthy condition and does not present a danger to road users. It is an offence to use a vehicle on public roads without a valid roadworthiness certificate and enforcement of this requirement is a matter for An Garda Síochána.