A legal loophole will be closed to ensure Gardaí can impound all foreign registered vehicles driven on the roads without insurance, tax or licences, the Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen, confirmed today.
Mr Cullen said a new clampdown on untaxed and uninsured vehicles would be outlined in the forthcoming Road Traffic Bill.
He said the new measure would close the legal loophole surrounding foreign vehicles by referring to all vehicles within the State.
This would ensure the vehicles can be impounded, regardless of their country of registration.
"This move targets all untaxed, uninsured and unlicensed drivers. To drive around untaxed, uninsured and unlicensed is reckless in the extreme. By moving to close off this loophole, it means all drivers can have their vehicle impounded if they fail to abide by driving laws," he said.
Mr Cullen said all people bringing vehicles into the State, other than those brought in temporarily by visitors, must be registered with the Revenue Commissioners.
The vehicle has to be registered before it can be licensed for road tax purposes.
The Department of Transport said any vehicle brought into Ireland from abroad must be registered and Vehicle Registration Tax paid by the end of the next working day following its arrival in the State.