asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will consider the advisability of issuing licences to permit tractor and lorry owners to transport farm produce and so create a situation in agricultural transport parallel to that which exists in other countries.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tractor Licences.
The conditions under which new merchandise licences may be granted are severely restricted by the legislation and the Minister for Industry and Commerce may grant a new licence only when the existing transport facilities in a particular area are inadequate. There is no evidence of any such inadequacy as would warrant the action proposed by the Deputy.
Section 15 of the Transport Act, 1950, imposes an obligation on C.I.E. to provide the necessary transport facilities for the needs, inter alia, of agriculture. Transport facilities are also provided by the G.N.R. and the other railway companies in their respective areas and by nearly 1,000 licensed hauliers, the great majority of whom are licensed to carry agricultural produce.