A “legal loophole” is allowing the importation of “dangerous” SUVs into Ireland, a Fianna Fáil MEP has claimed.
Cynthia Ní Mhurchú says the EU as a whole is experiencing a “huge increase” in SUVs entering the bloc that don’t meet safety standards, thanks to what’s known as Individual Vehicle Approval.
She told The Hard Shoulder today that the loophole needs to be closed.
“The safety standards of SUVs we’re used to seeing here, such as the South Korean-manufactured Hyundai Santa Fe, are subject to rigorous standards that are applied in order to be imported to Europe and to be sold and used by Irish drivers,” she said.
“I’m talking about the ones that have come through as a result of this loophole, known as Individual Vehicle Approval, or IVA, which has effectively allowed for a back door to be opened.
“We’re up 20% compared with 2022 in brands such as Dodge Rams; nearly 5,000 were brought into Europe in 2023, which is a fifth compared to 2022.”
A Black Dodge Ram 1500 Hemi pickup truck parked in a car park in Spain. Image: Alvey & Towers Picture Library / Alamy Stock PhotoMs Ní Mhurchú said certain SUVs are “particularly dangerous” for a number of factors.
“They are bad for the environment and are heavily polluting trucks,” she said.
“The CO2 emissions from Dodge Rams range from something like 300 grams to 900 grams per kilometre, significantly higher than the average newly sold car in Ireland would produce.
“They are not safe at all; these trucks have dangerously high bonnets, which puts women, children, and older people in danger.”
She added the legal loophole “should be closed” as it’s “facilitating” the importation of “oversized vehicles” into Ireland.
Loophole
Green Party Cllr Michael Pidgeon explained further how the loophole works.
“The loophole that they’re using to bring in these SUVs is essentially one that’s designed for really, really specialist vehicles,” he said.
“It would be for something involved in construction, mining, or emergency service vehicles, things that wouldn’t comply with the usual EU standards.
“In these cases, they’re not for any particular purpose other than showing off; they don’t have any particular use, but what they are is dangerous.”
Ban
Cllr Pidgeon said he’s against the use of SUVs on Irish roads.
“I think when it comes to these sorts of cars, it's a no-brainer that we should get them off our roads and ban them,” he said.
“We either have safety standards or we don’t, and these don’t meet EU safety standards.
“My opinion is they shouldn’t be sold here.”
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Main image: MC9313 A row of new Ford Edge SUV vehicles at a car dealership in Columbia, Maryland on April 13, 2018. Image: Kristoffer Tripplaar / Alamy Stock Photo
