Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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259. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if consideration will be given to legislation that would make it mandatory for all vehicle drivers to use dipped headlights during the daytime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37296/25]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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As Minister of State for International & Road Transport, Logistics, Rail & Ports, I wish to advise that the mandatory use of daytime running lights (DRLs) is already in effect for all new vehicles.

The General Safety Regulation (EC) 661/2009, eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2009/661/oj/eng, saw the introduction of mandatory DRLs, a lighting system that automatically switches on when the engine is running to increase a vehicle's visibility during the daytime, for all new vehicles from 1 November 2014.

Where a vehicle is not fitted with DRLs, my Department and the Road Safety Authority strongly recommend that drivers use dipped headlights during the daytime.

My Department has no plans at present to make the daytime use of headlights mandatory for any vehicles other than those already covered by EU legislation.