asked the Minister for Local Government if it is proposed to regulate the use by breakdown or recovery vehicles of flashing lights when they are towing other vehicles.

The lighting requirements relating to the use of vehicles are contained in the Road Traffic (Lighting of Vehicles) Regulations, 1963 to 1970. They do not provide for the use of flashing lights in the circumstances indicated by the Deputy, and I do not intend to amend the regulations to provide to that effect.

Is the Minister aware that many breakdown and recovery vehicles as well as some large vehicles which carry wide loads are using such flashing lights?

I have noticed that.

Is the Minister aware also that a number of prosecutions are pending in this regard and that the motor traders have been in touch with his Department on the matter?

The position is that the law does not allow the use of these types of lights on vehicles other than those used for specific purposes. A number of organisations have sought permission for the use of various types of flashing lights but such requests are refused because article 2 of the Road Traffic (Lighting of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations, 1967, permit the use of yellow rotating lamps on certain classes of vehicles owned by the Minister for Transport and Power while article 52 (18) of the same regulation permits blue flashing lights on ambulances, fire brigade vehicles, vehicles used in the delivery or collection of human blood and on Garda vehicles. The EEC Directive relating to lighting and signal devices for mechanically propelled vehicles adopted in July, 1976, specified all the lighting requirements considered necessary in the interest of road safety. Flashing lamps of the type referred to by the Deputy are not provided for.

I am aware, though, that amber flashing lights are permitted in Britain and Northern Ireland for breakdown vehicles. Since it is almost certain that the EEC will impose a ban which will prevent the use of such lights even in Britain and Northern Ireland, we do not propose to change the regulations.

It is obvious that breakdown and recovery vehicles use these flashing lights. Indeed, I would consider it advisable that such vehicles would be equipped with lighting of this nature in order to give warning to motorists. As a man who is on the road frequently, I am sure the Minister will agree and that it is only a matter of providing accordingly in the regulations.

The matter is not as simple as that. As I have said, a number of other organisations have requested permission to use these flashing devices but they have been told on all occasions that the EEC regulations exclude them. It would be foolish to make provision in this regard now and then to have to change the regulations in, say, 12 months time after the EEC had made an order to the effect that the use of such lights was to be discontinued. The best course to adopt is to let people know they are not entitled to use such devices.

That is the purpose of the question because, in addition to these lights being used by breakdown and recovery vehicles, they are being used by many large transport operators who perhaps are not aware that what they are doing is illegal.

May we have a question, please?

The Minister has made the position clear. The offenders in this regard are entitled to be apprised of the situation.

Is the use of these lights illegal?

Yes.

Would the Minister consider amending the relevant section of the regulations so as to render them legal?

That would be a foolish move. As I have told Deputy MacSharry, it is not my intention to make legal the use of such lighting.

I think the Deputy had in mind making compulsory the use of these devices.

That is not so.

He was saying they should not be used.