359 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 871 of 16 December 2003, the progress on the fifth EU motor insurance directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7773/04]

The European Council reached a political agreement at its meeting in November 2003, on a draft directive amending certain existing rules on insurance against civil liability by users of motor vehicles. This will be the fifth directive establishing the internal market in the field of motor insurance. The next step will be for the Council to formally adopt its common position and send it to the European Parliament in the framework of the co-decision procedure.