Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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1162. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he will issue a final reply to correspondence (details supplied) regarding trailer regulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9842/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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Firstly, the delay in sending a substantive response to the issue raised is regretted and the Deputy will receive a formal letter of response shortly to the following effect.

Directive 2007/46/EC(as transposed nationally by S.I. 157 and 158 of 2009) requires that all new vehicles being sold or registered in Ireland must be type approved and certified. The type approval system currently in place for trailers provides for the type approval certification of heavy trailers (over 3.5 tonnes) when first registered in the State; while light trailers (3.5 tonnes or less) must be type approved at the point of sale. Light trailers cannot be sold without type approval certification.

Recognising a general absence of harmonised consumer protection-related market surveillance activities across the EU in relation to the sale of vehicles and their components, on 27 January 2016, the European Commission transmitted a proposal to the European Parliament and the Council (Com 2016/31) relating to the "approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles".

In an effort to ensure effective operation of the internal market and fair competition, the proposal introduces, for the first time, market surveillance provisions into the type-approval framework for motor vehicles with four or more wheels and their trailers.

Once the proposal has been adopted and becomes an EU Regulation, Ireland will appoint a market surveillance inspectorate to carry out appropriate market surveillance activities for such vehicles and their trailers.

Currently, the timing for the adoption of the aforementioned proposal is unknown and a decision has not yet been taken as to the body who will be appointed to perform this role in Ireland.