Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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180. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to complaints by motorists that the LED headlights on new cars are causing significant difficulties for oncoming drivers; and if the European Commission, which has responsibility for this area, is aware of such difficulties. [1442/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights and Light Emitting Diode (LED) headlights are known to provide greater brightness, improved colour rendering, increased efficiencies and in the case of LED in particular, longer performance life.

The use of HID and LED headlights in vehicles across the EU is tightly regulated by the European type-approval system. This system establishes the technical and safety standards required to place a vehicle or a vehicle component on the market and enter it into service within any EU Member State.  In order to acquire type-approval, the headlight components and technology must meet specific safety standards.  Accordingly, if a headlight has been type-approval and entered into service it is considered safe to use within the EU.

I am only aware of one query from a member of the public in relation to the use of LED lights and therefore I do not consider this to be a widespread issue. I cannot speak on behalf of the European Commission, but to my knowledge, this issue has not been raised by that body or indeed by any other Member State.