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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| MOT diesel test not performed in NI for 12 years | MOT diesel test not performed in NI for 12 years |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Emissions tests on diesel cars have not been carried out during MOTs in Northern Ireland for 12 years, despite being legally required. | Emissions tests on diesel cars have not been carried out during MOTs in Northern Ireland for 12 years, despite being legally required. |
| The tests were crucial, an air pollution expert told BBC Spotlight, and not to do them was "virtually criminal". | The tests were crucial, an air pollution expert told BBC Spotlight, and not to do them was "virtually criminal". |
| The government is legally required to do an emissions test on diesels. | The government is legally required to do an emissions test on diesels. |
| The Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) said its staff do a "visual test" and make a "personal judgement" about emissions. | The Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) said its staff do a "visual test" and make a "personal judgement" about emissions. |
| It means there are potentially tens of thousands of diesel cars with illegal emissions on the road in Northern Ireland. | It means there are potentially tens of thousands of diesel cars with illegal emissions on the road in Northern Ireland. |
| Smoke meter tests | Smoke meter tests |
| Both EU and Northern Ireland domestic law requires the government to do an emissions test on diesels at MOT using a machine called a smoke meter. | Both EU and Northern Ireland domestic law requires the government to do an emissions test on diesels at MOT using a machine called a smoke meter. |
| The smoke meter test is routinely carried out in the rest of the UK where MOTs are done in private garages rather than state-run centres. | The smoke meter test is routinely carried out in the rest of the UK where MOTs are done in private garages rather than state-run centres. |
| According to Professor Robert Lee of Birmingham University, failure to do the test means the government in Northern Ireland is breaking the law. | According to Professor Robert Lee of Birmingham University, failure to do the test means the government in Northern Ireland is breaking the law. |
| Friends of the Earth has said they could now take legal action in both Belfast and Brussels. as a result. | Friends of the Earth has said they could now take legal action in both Belfast and Brussels. as a result. |
| 'Scandal' | 'Scandal' |
| The tests were introduced at MOT in Northern Ireland in 2006 but were suspended 12 weeks later due to concerns about health and safety in the testing halls. | The tests were introduced at MOT in Northern Ireland in 2006 but were suspended 12 weeks later due to concerns about health and safety in the testing halls. |
| They have never been reintroduced. | They have never been reintroduced. |
| The DVA, which runs MOTs, told Spotlight reintroducing a smoke meter test for diesel cars would require "a significant investment programme". | The DVA, which runs MOTs, told Spotlight reintroducing a smoke meter test for diesel cars would require "a significant investment programme". |
| It said its staff do a "visual test" where they make a "personal judgement" about a car's emissions. | It said its staff do a "visual test" where they make a "personal judgement" about a car's emissions. |
| SDLP MLA John Dallat said the failure to do the tests was a "scandal" which required a "thorough inquiry". | SDLP MLA John Dallat said the failure to do the tests was a "scandal" which required a "thorough inquiry". |
| He added: "I'm sure there are very few people watching this programme that haven't seen cars emitting huge volumes of black smoke and wondering how on earth those things are on the road. | He added: "I'm sure there are very few people watching this programme that haven't seen cars emitting huge volumes of black smoke and wondering how on earth those things are on the road. |
| "Now we know. If those tests were there, those cars would be gone." | "Now we know. If those tests were there, those cars would be gone." |
| 'Virtually criminal' | 'Virtually criminal' |
| Spotlight bought a second hand diesel car which was due for MOT and booked a test. | Spotlight bought a second hand diesel car which was due for MOT and booked a test. |
| Our confirmation email and the NI Direct website both informed us that the MOT would involve a metered smoke test to check the car's emissions. | Our confirmation email and the NI Direct website both informed us that the MOT would involve a metered smoke test to check the car's emissions. |
| That was not true. | That was not true. |
| We secretly filmed throughout the test and there was no evidence of a metered smoke test. | We secretly filmed throughout the test and there was no evidence of a metered smoke test. |
| Professor Harrison told Spotlight he was shocked by what we found. | Professor Harrison told Spotlight he was shocked by what we found. |
| "This is a very straightforward test and it's quite an effective way of picking up the grossly emitting vehicles. Not to do it, I would regard as virtually criminal," he said. | "This is a very straightforward test and it's quite an effective way of picking up the grossly emitting vehicles. Not to do it, I would regard as virtually criminal," he said. |
| The DVA's chief executive, Paul Duffy, who has been in post since 2013, answered Spotlight's questions to both his own organisation and the Department for Infrastructure. | The DVA's chief executive, Paul Duffy, who has been in post since 2013, answered Spotlight's questions to both his own organisation and the Department for Infrastructure. |
| He said: "Resuming the metered smoke test for diesel cars will require a significant investment programme, which will also provide additional capacity to address the growing demand for vehicle tests across Northern Ireland and which is currently under way." | |
| He said a new centre in Belfast equipped to do the test would be open in late 2021. Upgrading the rest would require funding approval. | He said a new centre in Belfast equipped to do the test would be open in late 2021. Upgrading the rest would require funding approval. |
| He added: "The communication to motorists by way of a vehicle test reminder and a vehicle test appointment notification uses generic letters issued to all motorists and includes information applicable to a range of vehicle categories including HGVs and buses. | He added: "The communication to motorists by way of a vehicle test reminder and a vehicle test appointment notification uses generic letters issued to all motorists and includes information applicable to a range of vehicle categories including HGVs and buses. |
| "The information on the letters is not tailored or specific to any category of vehicle." | "The information on the letters is not tailored or specific to any category of vehicle." |
| He said his organisation would now review its published communications. | He said his organisation would now review its published communications. |
| You can watch Spotlight on BBC iplayer | You can watch Spotlight on BBC iplayer |