Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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233. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the departmental planning or strategy groups that are in place to consider, plan and address the impact that autonomous self-driving transportation vehicles will have on the law here; his policy approach to these developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31946/17]

Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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234. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the forward planning, departmental or strategy groups in place to consider, plan and address the public policy impact that autonomous, self-driving transportation vehicles will have here; his policy approach to these developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31947/17]

Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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250. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the departmental planning or strategy groups that are in place to consider, plan and address the impact that autonomous self-driving transportation vehicles will have on road design, traffic management and road traffic law; his policy approach to these developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31945/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 233, 234 and 250 together.

It is important to note at the outset that motor vehicles are not manufactured in Ireland. 

At the EU level, there is a concerted effort to prepare for the introduction of fully automated motor vehicles.  My Department is well aware of all the measures which the EU Commission, in conjunction with the automotive industry are working on.  Fully automated vehicles are being tested in some EU Member States.  However, at this stage all such prototypes have a driver on-board.  To my knowledge, no fully automated vehicle is offered for sale in any EU Member State.

From an Irish perspective there is an Intelligent Transport Systems representative association, "ITS Ireland" which my Department was involved in setting up.  It has been working in conjunction with my Department, IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland to raise awareness in relevant industry sectors, through a connected and automated vehicles (CAV) Forum.  This Forum met on 14 June last and a report is awaited of its deliberations.  The Road Safety Authority is also keeping a watching brief on all developments and proposals in this area.  My Department is also participating in a number of research projects in this area and is also working on an ITS strategy that will cover this area, amongst other things.

The EU wish to have fully autonomous motor vehicles circulating in the EU by 2019 is an ambitious target.  It is incumbent on Ireland as it is on all Member States of the EU to ensure that the promise of safety attributed to fully automated driving materialises.  All of the technology required for a fully autonomous motor vehicle will have to be fully tested.  I am not aware of any proposals from the automotive sector to test such vehicles in Ireland.