asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will take steps to ensure that EEC regulations affecting road haulage will be in accord with the wishes of the Irish Road Hauliers' Association.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Road Haulage Regulations.
13.
On joining the European Economic Community, Ireland accepted all legislation already adopted by the Community institutions.
Since accession, a number of Council regulations and directives relating to road transport have been adopted by the EEC and a number of proposals are at present under discussion. It is normal practice for my Department to consult the Irish Road Haulage Association, the Road Transport Organisation and other interested bodies about any EEC proposals falling within the scope of my Department and their views are taken into consideration when formulating an Irish view on the proposals.
I should explain to the Deputy that EEC social legislation relating to road transport falls within the ambit of the Minister for Labour, while proposals relating to such matters as commercial vehicles taxation, driving licences, weights and dimensions and minimum standards of training for drivers are dealt with by the Minister for Local Government.
I am aware that the Minister for Labour made a belated attempt last week to have this matter rectified. Is the Minister aware that the eight hour limit the EEC are seeking to impose will possibly cause serious unemployment and rapid increases in costs so far as Irish road haulage is concerned?
First, the Minister for Labour's attempt was not belated——
Very belated.
One second, if it was thought that it was unsuitable for this country to have this regulation, that should have been said at the time of accession in 1971 and 1972 when the Treaty was negotiated, because when we joined the Community it was already part of the Treaty of Rome and we were bound by all these regulations when we joined. What the Minister for Labour did originally at a Council meeting during the autumn was to give notice of his intention to ask for a deferment of this regulation for two years. The Commission said that legally they could not do this because we had accepted the regulation when we joined; and we were not in Government when we joined the EEC. The Minister for Labour is now seeking a postponement and the Commission are sympathetic to our point of view but find themselves in a sort of legal dilemma about how they can get around the position and allow deferment for some reasonable time. The Minister appreciates the situation because he has had consultation with everybody involved including the FUE and the trade unions. He realises that there is necessity for the postponement.
Surely the Minister is aware that everything signed when we joined the EEC is negotiable and that many changes have been negotiated by many countries?
No. It is not possible in that way; quite the opposite.