Irish motorists could face a rise in new car prices when a Government Bill on changes in the speed limits becomes law. The news comes as the latest survey by eurocarprices.com shows average retail prices for new cars here rose 3.6 per cent in the year to May. Ian Noctor reports.
Government plans to change speed limits from miles per hour to kilometres per hour require speedometers on all new Irish cars to be changed to metric. The chief executive of the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI), Cyril McHugh, concedes higher prices could be a reality from January 1st, 2005.
"Ireland will be the only country in Europe needing right-hand drive cars with the speed in kilometres. There may be some increased costs."
The Road Traffic Bill 2004, which will be debated in the Dáil tonight provides for a new system of metric speed limits, which it's planned will be in place by the end of the year.
It also establishes a new structure for the application of speed limits which will see the maximum speed on motorways raised to 120kph (80mph), while on secondary or country roads the limit will be reduced to 80kph (50mph).
The decision to switch to metric limits in line with the European norm has been welcomed in principle by Fine Gael but party transport spokesperson Pat Breen has criticised the Minister for Transport, Seamus Brennan, for the predicted cost increases to motorists.
"Car manufacturers need at least six months notice to begin producing right-hand drive cars with metric speedometers," he said.
"There is no evidence that the Government has liaised with manufacturers to ensure the changes are made in time. It's much cheaper to install metric speedometers at the production stage, but unless the Minister gives enough warning to the industry the additional cost will almost certainly be passed on to the consumer."
The SIMI's Cyril McHugh disagrees: "I'm a member of Minster Brennan's implementation committee and we've been kept well informed. We're preparing for it and all cars sold here from the beginning of next year will have the appropriate speedometer."
While welcoming plans to reduce speeds on secondary roads, the Green Party's transport spokesman Eamonn Ryan questioned the Minister's plans to increase speed limits at 40 sites around the country.
"Some of these sites are unsuitable for speed increases. For instance, the 40mph speed limit on the Belfield flyover in Dublin is appropriate - that should not be changed."
Deputy Ryan called on the Minister to reconsider his decision not to introduce a 30 kilometre per hour speed limit, except outside schools.
"There are areas of the capital, for instance outside Trinity College where the current speed limits are too high, but the Minister has refused to allow the limit to be reduced to 30kph."