Truck drivers cannot be forced to fit "blind spot" mirrors on their vehicles "at the stroke of a pen", Minister of State for Transport Pat "The Cope" Gallagher insisted as the Opposition accused him inaction and "copping out".
The question was raised in the wake of a recommendation by Dublin city coroner Dr Brian Farrell that such mirrors be fitted after he heard the case of an 80-year-old man killed by a truck.
Labour's transport spokeswoman RóisíShortall said that under existing legislation and EU directives "there is nothing to prevent the Minister from making the fitting of such mirrors compulsory on all trucks in the country". She pointed out that the National Safety Council estimated that at least eight people died every year because of trucks having these "blind spots". "It appears that the action could be carried out with the stroke of a pen," she said.
Mr Gallagher wished "to work within the European framework and it is not possible to make the retrofitting of mirrors compulsory by the stroke of a pen". Under an EU directive the fitting of "Cyclops" mirrors to all heavy goods vehicles only becomes compulsory in January 2007 for new vehicles. The "inactivity of the department results in the loss of lives on Irish roads which is inexcusable", Ms Shortall said.