andMr. Naughten asked the Minister for Transport when he proposes to introduce legislation to implement the recommendations of the Transport Consultative Commission on road haulage.
118.
Written Answers. - Road Freight Haulage.
117.
asked the Minister for Transport when he received the report of the Transport Consultative Committee on road freight haulage; when he invited observations on the report from interested parties; the interested parties that have so far provided observations; the interested parties who have been invited to comment but who have so far not provided observations; and when he expects to be able to announce a decision on the report and its contents and the introduction of the consequent legislation.
119.
asked the Minister for Transport the proposals there are to issue merchandise licences on request.
120.
asked the Minister for Transport if he intends to amend the road haulage licensing system; if he is aware of the abuse of the present system particularly with regard to the hiring out of licences by some licensees; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 117, 118, 119 and 120 together.
The Report of the Transport Consultactive Commission on Road Freight haulage was presented to my predecessor by the Commission on 22 July 1981.
The main general recommendation of the report is for completing the liberalisation of the licensing system on a phased basis so as to make general haulage licences freely available to all qualified applicants. This recommendation is linked to improved enforcement of road transport and road traffic legislation and higher standards of quality controls.
After presentation of the report to the Government and both Houses of the Oireachtas, the report was published on 30 July 1981 with an announcement that decisions on the specific recommendations in the report would be taken as soon as possible after all the interests concerned had an opportunity of studying and commenting on the report. This announcement was followed by advertisements in the daily press and trade magazines inviting all interested bodies and organisations to submit their views on the report by 31 October 1981.
Submissions on the report were received from: The Chartered Institute of Transport in Ireland; The Commercial Vehicle Rental Association Ltd; The Confederation of Irish Industry; Córas Iompair Éireann; The Independent Hauliers' Association; The Irish Finance Houses Association; The Irish Overseas Transport Association Ltd; The Irish Road Haulage Association; The National Transport Operators Association; Transport Brokerage Services Ltd; and some individual hauliers.
It is assumed that all who intended to respond to the invitation to submit views on the report have done so.
In response to specific requests from two of the associations of hauliers I received deputations from them on the subject of the report during the month of June.
I am now in the process of finalising my conclusions on the recommendations in the report and the detailed views of the interests concerned. I hope to have this completed very soon and to make my recommendations to Government.
As regards the latter parts of Deputy Collin's question the position is as follows. The holder of a merchandise licence is entitled, subject to plating requirements, to operate in the course of his business vehicles which are not owned by him. The owners of plated vehicles who are not the holders of merchandise licences are not, however, entitled under the legislation to engage on their own account in the business of transport of goods for reward.
I am aware that in spite of precautionary measures which have to be observed at the Garda plating stations, there have been abuses of the system on the basis of what is known as the hiring or renting of licences and/or plates to vehicle owners who are not licensees. Transport operations based on such arrangements constitute offences under the Transport Acts on the part of both the holder of the licence and the owners of plated vehicles. I am informed that the Garda, who are the enforcing authority, investigate all cases of alleged contraventions of the legislation coming to their attention and institute legal proceedings as appropriate.
The Transport Consultative Commission on the road freight haulage industry recommended improved enforcement of road transport and road traffic legislation and the abuses of the licensing system are also under consideration in that context.