Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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826. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the safety measures being undertaken by his Department for the regulation of self-driving cars here; and the engagement which has taken place with companies in relation to self-driving cars. [22131/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​Currently in Ireland, my department is not aware any demand for the operational testing of automated vehicle technologies; it is my understanding that these are largely taking place in countries with a domestic vehicle manufacturing industry. Of course, there are a range of firms with a presence here which have some involvement in elements of the very diverse range of technologies involved.

However, as this more a matter of industrial policy than road safety, it is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise, and Innovation and I am unable to comment further. However, in relation to road safety and relevant legal frameworks, my Department is continuing to monitor the development of autonomous vehicles and how this new technology is being managed in other jurisdictions. The question of automated and connected vehicles will have to be looked at in the context of the EU as well as nationally, given the framework of relevant licensing, insurance, data protection, and other legislation at EU level as well as the existence of the single market. Ireland is engaging with our European colleagues as the issues and challenges, including safety measures, are explored and addressed at EU level. Many of these were highlighted in the Declaration of Amsterdam, which was endorsed by all Transport Ministers of the EU in April 2016.

It is expected that the Commission's  Connected Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS​) deployment platform will furnish EU Member States with various policy recommendations for the development of a roadmap for C-ITS and identify solutions for critical areas of concern in relation to such vehicles.