asked the Minister for Transport and Power (a) if he can indicate the result of the survey made last year of the effects of the operation of Northern Ireland hauliers in the Republic on the public transport companies' business and employment; and (b) what decision has been taken on the memorandum sent to him some time ago by and on behalf of the Lough Swilly Railway Company.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cross-Border Transport.
8.
The survey of the operation of the cross-Border transport arrangements is being carried out on a continuous basis. The results available to date do not indicate that the arrangements are having adverse effects on the public transport companies in the State.
I have had the memorandum sent to me by the railway company mentioned closely examined. The company have been informed that there is no provision in transport legislation under which a capital grant could be made to them; that my concern is to ensure adequate public transport in all parts of the country; and that in the event of the company proposing to curtail or withdraw existing services I would have to consider the whole situation in the light of all the circumstances then obtaining.
It is a year ago that I asked a similar question and got a similar answer, which is in itself unsatisfactory. Would the Parliamentary Secretary agree that, since the transfer of public road haulage to private firms and companies in Northern Ireland and the Minister's licensing for a period of 72 hours the entry of these companies into the Twenty-Six County area and the fact that by so doing he has enabled these to take the cream of the public transport, public companies here, including CIE, are losing money by having to depend on what is left and, in that situation, is it not advisable that the Minister should take steps to ensure that this unfair competition shall cease forthwith?
This is assuming that what the Deputy alleges is happening, that is, that some outside companies are taking the cream of this business. This has not been established but, as I said in my reply on behalf of the Minister, he is having this situation very closely watched. There has been nothing established so far which indicates that what the Deputy says is totally correct.
I should like to ask what investigations or inquiries were made through the Lough Swilly Railway Company. I understand there were no inquiries made and this is one public firm here which is very seriously affected by the existing regulations.
I am not in a position to give details as to the extent of the inquiries in connection with the company concerned but I do know that the overall position is being constantly examined.
Surely, any inquiry which does not cover a fairly substantial small private company covering half of Donegal and how the activities of that company are suffering is not an inquiry at all?
I cannot accept that the inquiries do not cover this company because there were representations made both by the company and on behalf of the company to which the Minister gave full and careful consideration and one could not say that this consideration could have been given without taking the pros and cons of the situation as it affects this company into consideration.