287 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if there are safety regulations within Ireland and the European Union requiring reinforced safety frames in cars in order to minimise serious injury where cars overturn or are otherwise involved in severe impact; and his views on whether such a requirement should apply to all cars. [4215/02]

There are no requirements in Irish or European Union law for safety frames in passenger cars. Directive 98/14/EC on motor vehicle type approval lays down the requirements and standards that all new passenger cars must meet before they can be registered for use for the first time. The requirements do not include the fitting of safety frames to cars and individual member states are not free to introduce requirements that would be additional to those set out in the directive.