Motorists are being blocked from getting lower insurance prices because they drive older cars. Two of the country’s biggest motor insurers, Aviva and Allianz, are refusing to provide cover to new customers driving cars 15 years or older, even if they hold a valid NCT proving that their vehicles are safe to drive. The insurers claimed these cars tended to be involved in more collisions, were used in fraud cases, had bald tyres and were…

The European Commission yesterday adopted a Better Regulation Agenda, the aim of which is to improve rule-making at EU level. The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) welcomes this step as a continuation of the principles previously laid down in the CARS21 High Level Group and in the CARS 2020 and Industrial Policy Communications. The European automotive industry is one of the most heavily regulated sectors in Europe with more than 100 EU Regulations and 80…

PRESS RELEASE: Auto industry advocates using full spectrum of solutions to bring down CO2 emissions Brussels, 17 June 2015 – Ahead of tomorrow’s European Commission ‘Driving Road Decarbonisation Forward’ conference, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) calls for a comprehensive approach to future CO2 emissions reduction. The automobile industry remains committed to contributing its fair share towards lowering greenhouse gas emissions, namely through fuel-efficiency technologies (eg variable valve timing, turbocharging, stop-start systems and direct injection…

Rugby star will be spared criminal conviction and fine if he donates €200 to charity A judge has ruled that dark tinted windows on Cian Healy’s all-terrain Land Rover were unsafe. The Ireland and Leinster prop had to come to Dublin District Court after receiving summonses including one for breaking road traffic regulations by having dark glass fitted on his distinctive ‘12-reg Land Rover Defender. However he will be spared a criminal conviction and a…

IN January 2014 then Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar announced in the Dáil that he was “proposing to introduce a statutory control procedure in relation to written-off vehicles”. The announcement was made in response to a question put to him by Deputy Timmy Dooley (FF) who had expressed concern about “reports that more than 200,000 written-off cars are still being driven”. That figure of 200,000 was published by Cartell.ie earlier that month. The introduction of…

The owner of a tyre waste business has today been given a 15 month custodial sentence, suspended for 2 years, and a 2 year supervision order after illegally storing almost 84,659 waste tyres at several sites in Devon. The case was brought by the Environment Agency. Andrew Mayhew pleaded guilty to 5 offences at Plymouth Crown Court of running a waste operation without the necessary permits, which involved dumping large numbers of tyres at several…

Deputy Robert Troy: Information on Robert Troy Zoom on Robert Troy I welcome the opportunity to raise this extremely important issue. The tyre industry accepts that it must comply with duty of care obligations and protect the environment. All tyres collected, recycled or repossessed should be disposed of or reused in an environmentally friendly manner using acceptable methods, whether recycled or used as fuel in cement kilns. The proposal by the Department will have serious…

ERP schedule a number of Free Recycling Events throughout the year where you can bring any used household electrical item with a plug or a battery to be recycled. If you cannot make it to one of our Free Recycling Events, you can bring your waste electrical items and batteries to your local recycling centre.

Minister for Defence Simon Coveney has admitted there is an issue with six ambulances bought by the Defence Forces, for a total cost of almost €900,000. Minister Coveney said he became aware of a health and safety assessment on the ambulances in the last few weeks. The Forces’ Advisory Group assessment on safety concluded that the risk of back injury was so great that the ambulances’ role should be reconsidered. It found health and safety issues around the loading and…