22 October 2002: Ireland is one of 10 European countries which face EU court action over their failure to implement a 'vehicle end of life' directive.

The directive was agreed in 2000 and aims to prevent waste from motor vehicles and vehicle components that have reached the end of their life-cycle and also to promote vehicle re-use, recycling and other forms of recovery.

The measure sets limits on the extent of hazardous chemicals contained in vehicles that act to impede safe disposal and recovery and provides for manufacturer-funded collection systems to ensure that end-of-life vehicles are effectively and safely disposed of.

Britain, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, Ireland, Greece, Spain, Portugal and Finland have all now been targeted by Brussels because they have failed to bring in legislation to implement the directive.

National governments have only two months in which to explain to Brussels how they will comply, or the Commission will be forced to decide whether to go to court.