asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will extend the range of unlicensed hauliers to 30 miles.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Road Hauliers.
20.
The Road Transport Act, 1971 introduced a substantial measure of liberalisation by removing area and commodity restrictions from 700 merchandise licences and thus increased substantially the supply of professional road transport throughout the State. The Act also aimed, by removing certain other restrictions related to mergers and transfers, at securing higher standards of professionalism and efficiency among the licensed hauliers.
The need for further transport legislation is kept continually under review. Should additional liberalisation become necessary, regard must be had in the interests of the licensed hauliers whose operations had been restricted since 1933. I do not propose to introduce legislation to extend the existing exempt areas.
Is the Minister aware that the present limits are much too low in view of development even within this city, for instance? When one considers a farm in, say, the Clondalkin area, 15 miles is a very short distance from headquarters when the total development of the city is considered. The same would apply to such other areas as Limerick, Cork and Galway. Would the Minister consider extending the limit to 30 miles?
Yes, I am aware that many people consider the 15 miles too low, but we must look at the overall picture. Up to 18 months or two years ago, before the liberalisation of transport, a very restricted number of hauliers were allowed to carry. It was felt at the time and, indeed, my predecessor when introducing the Bill said, we should move slowly towards liberalisation, that while he envisaged much more liberalisation, he wanted to protect those who had been confined in their operations for the previous 40 years. I shall continue that policy for the moment. I shall try to achieve liberalisation as soon as possible, but I shall have to move slowly.
Is the Minister aware of the untenable position that exists at Fenit at present because CIE are not equipped to operate from the port there? Boats are continually held up, and the merchants and private people who are using lorries are being harassed every day by the Garda, as they have to be. Fenit was a port that had an exemption of 20 miles——
I want to help the Deputy, but he must not make a speech on the matter.
I am trying to make the case that Fenit had the 20 miles exemption before. Kerry is now industrialised and we need this 20 miles exemption. I would ask the Minister to consider this as being necessary if we are to be able to compete in the markets outside.
I do not know about the position in Fenit.
Will the Minister make inquiries?
I will, yes.
21.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will outline the effect of directive 73/169/EEC as reported in Vol. 16 No. L181 of 4th July, 1973 on Irish road hauliers and European hauliers operating here.
The EEC directive referred to amended an earlier directive which required standard forms of authorisation for international road haulage between the member states of the Community. The amending directive allows member states to reduce the number of languages.
We have put arrangements in train for the printing of the standard forms of authorisation in the six official languages. It is not, therefore, proposed to avail of the derogation set out in the amending directive whereby the number of languages in the authorisations can be reduced.