Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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292. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline any plans to implement the new United Nations vehicle safety regulations on assisted and self-driving systems, as developed through the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, that were agreed in October 2025; if they will be implemented without undue delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61343/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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There is significant ongoing work taking place internationally on advancing and implementing self-driving systems and this is reflected in the work of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). The new UN Regulations, referred to in the question, were agreed this October but have still not been formally adopted. When they are adopted, I expect that the EU, which are party to the discussions, will move to have them adopted within the EU at the earliest opportunity.

We are currently progressing the development of a National Strategy in relation to connected and self-driving vehicles. I expect this strategy to be completed in the first part of next year. Additionally, due to priority, we are progressing in parallel a supporting framework which includes legislation on testing as well as advanced driver assistance systems.