Brussels, 31/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has sent a reasoned opinion to Ireland for it to desist from random checks on motor insurance. Irish legislation on road traffic authorises the Irish police to check whether vehicles in circulation have an insurance, be they registered in Ireland or in any other Member States without requiring any other additional condition (accident, speed control, etc.). The Commission considers that this legislation is contrary to the first directive on automobile insurance, which abolished controls on insurance cards for vehicles usually stationed in a Member State and penetrating the territory of another Member State. The Irish authorities had announced their intention of responding to these concerns, "however, no information has been provided regarding the content of these regulations or when they will enter into force", says the Commission in a press release. It has therefor decided to pursue the infringement procedure.