Minister for Transport Martin Cullen will seek EU agreement this month for measures to require all large trucks to carry front-facing mirrors.
This was stated last night following a decision by the north Kerry coroner to write to various Government departments on the issue, after she had presided over an inquest yesterday into the death of a 70-year-old Abbeydorney man who was killed in the blind spot to the front of a truck in Tralee.
His death was the latest of a number of recent cases in which pedestrians or cyclists have been killed in a truck's blind spot.
While an EU directive to come into force in Ireland in January 2007 will make the "cyclops" mirrors a legal requirement on vehicles, this will apply only to new trucks.
A spokeswoman for Mr Cullen said last night he had decided to bring the matter before this month's EU Council transport meeting.
"The Minister is in favour of retro-fitting and is keen to secure EU-wide agreement on the issue . . . and intends to advance the matter at the upcoming transport council meeting," she said.
While he welcomed the EU directive on new trucks and encouraged drivers to fit the mirrors, "there comes a point when we can no longer leave this to chance".
President of the Irish Road Haulage Association Vincent Caulfield said the association had recommended that all its members fit the mirrors, which can be bought and put in place for less than €100.
"It's something we feel very strongly about," Mr Caulfield said.
"I think the Government needs to make it mandatory for the annual DOE [ Department of the Environment] truck test, but that's something they haven't done anything about. It's a pity they wouldn't take it on board. If they made it mandatory, every lorry would have it, simple as that."
Earlier yesterday north Kerry coroner Helen Lucey said she would write to Government departments "for future reference" to impress on them the need to make the mirrors compulsory.
She was speaking at the inquest in Tralee into the death of Michael Hurley, Abbeydorney, Co Kerry, who died on March 10th, 2005, after he was struck by a large lorry while crossing the street at a traffic light junction in the town.
Although the Mercedes truck was in its correct lane and in roadworthy condition, said vehicle inspector Garda James O'Brien, there was no mirror in front, leaving an expansive blind spot below the windscreen.
"This is not a compulsory mirror, but it would in my opinion afford the driver of these types of vehicle a view into a blind spot that exists at the very near surface of the front of these vehicles," Garda O'Brien said.