asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, in view of the obligations which the Transport Act, 1950, imposed on the Board of C.I.E. to provide an efficient and economical transport system and their repeatedly declared inability to discharge this responsibility until private freight transport has been drastically restricted, he will now introduce the necessary legislation to help the company to achieve this end and to expand its haulage operations both by road and rail.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Transport Problems.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if it is proposed to amend the Road Transport Acts to permit farmers to carry for reward, by means of tractor and trailer, the goods of neighbouring farmers resident within two miles of them.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he proposes to establish a transport consultative council as proposed by the recent Committee of Inquiry into Internal Transport.
I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 11, 12 and 13 together.
The matters referred to in the questions, in conjunction with other matters relating to transport, will be considered in the light of the conclusions and recommendations in the recently published Report of the Committee of Inquiry into Internal Transport, 1957. The Government does not propose to take decisions on these matters until it has had the opportunity of considering the views on the committee's recommendations which, it is expected, will be submitted to it.
Does the Minister propose to make any statement in relation to this matter on his Estimate?
I doubt if I shall have received by then all the representations and comments that I am going to receive.
Will the Minister make a statement of the Government's view on the Transport Estimate, or is he not yet ready to make such a statement?
I do not yet know when the Estimate will be taken but I do not anticipate I shall be able to make an announcement finally in that regard.
The Minister is going to announce views.
May I take it that the trade union organisation will be taken into conference on this question of the future of C.I.E.?
I am quite sure the trade union organisation will insist on being heard.
That is very desirable.