Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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282. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps his Department has taken to regulate the operation of automated cars; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38168/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​In terms of regulating the use of automated vehicles, my department is not aware of any demand for the use or indeed the operational testing of such vehicles in Ireland. I understand that given the stage of development that this technology is at such activities are largely confined to countries with a domestic vehicle manufacturing industry.

Nonetheless, in terms of road safety and developing the relevant legal framework within which these vehicles may operate, 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 EU Transport Ministers 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 will also identify solutions for critical areas of concern in relation to such vehicles.