asked the Minister for Transport if there are any proposals to ease the position for Irish hauliers since EEC Council Regulations Nos. 543-69 and Nos. 1463-70 became fully effective in Irish law in 1981.
Written Answers. - EEC Haulier Regulations.
132.
Concessions under the Irish-EEC Treaty of Accession to the EEC provided for Council Regulation (EEC) No. 543/69 on the harmonisation of certain social legislation relating to road transport and Council Regulation (EEC) No. 1463/70 entering fully into force for national transport by 1 January 1976 and 1 January 1978 respectively. In view, however, of the difficulties associated with implementation of the legislation for the road transport industry it was necessary for a number of approaches to be made to the EEC authorities for relief from the Regulations. As a result a number of separate further concessions were granted which were aimed at assisting the industry through phasing-in of the EEC requirements and Regulation No. 543/69 and Regulation No. 1463/70 did not enter fully into force in Ireland until 1 January, 1981 and 1 December, 1981 respectively. This exhausted the possibilities for concessions under EEC rules and the Regulation fell to be implemented in full from those dates.
Recently the EEC Commission have been reviewing the working of the Regulations in consultation with national administrations and the social partners. There is a possibility that this may lead to some changes which will introduce some measure of greater flexibility in their applications throughout the Community. The work of reviewing is at an early stage and it is not possible to say when it will be completed or what the outcome will be.