Vol. 258 No. 11
asked the Minister for Transport and Power how traffic within the Thirty-Two Counties will be affected by the proposals adopted by the EEC Council on 3rd December, 1971, in regard to tariffs and charges on cross border road and rail transport; and if he has made any representations in the matter.
30.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if the EEC Council adopted on 3rd December, 1971, proposals for financial reorganisation and managerial independence of railway services; if so, how CIE will be affected; and if he has made any representations in the matter.
31.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he has examined the proposals concerning a common transport policy as submitted to the Council of Ministers of the EEC by the Commission; if the proposals involve any changes in Irish policy; and, if so, if he has made any representations in the matter.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 29, 30 and 31 together.
Under the procedure for joint consultation agreed between the Community and the applicant states, Community proposals on common transport policy for consideration by the Council of Ministers are examined in my Department. Consultation with the Commission is being sought on a number of proposals which may affect our transport legislation and practice. The Council have decided, in principle, to extend for three years the existing Community regulations on a rate bracket tariff system in international road freight and to introduce such a system for rail freight. Should it be found necessary, following consultation with the Commission, to apply these regulations to cross-Border freight transport, I do not anticipate any serious difficulty in doing so. They are also considering regulations governing access to the road haulage industry.
We are also seeking consultation regarding the proposals for the financing of railways with a view to ensuring that new legislation affecting CIE will be in harmony with EEC policy.
Would the Minister tell me to what extent the proposals adopted on 3rd December are changeable at the request of the Government?
They are changeable because we have got complete exemption from any decisions in regard to this during the transitional period. We can go in and put our point of view during the transitional period. This is the important thing.
We have exemption during the transitional period but, at the end of that period, if these regulations have been adopted, they will affect us.
They can always be changed.
Could the Minister state what will be the effect specifically on the relationship between his Department and CIE?
In regard to CIE, it is entirely a matter of internal administration and nothing really arises there. I might get the Deputy and the House into a sense of reality about this when I say that transport regulations would be of major importance within the central European area but, as far as transport arrangements in Ireland are concerned, we will be masters of our own destiny where transport is concerned.
Is it not the case that the Council has adopted a system and how can the Minister say that it will be purely an internal matter for us?
This applies to an area like Luxembourg/Holland/Germany where railways are running in and out between the different countries. It is of very little consequence as far as we are concerned.
What about managerial independence?
I am calling Question No. 32. We cannot discuss this all day.
