Vol. 409 No. 9
34 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if he will outline the comparative costs for hauliers operating from Northern Ireland and the Republic; the steps he proposes to take to reduce competitive disadvantages which hauliers based in this State have to overcome; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I accept that, in general, transport costs in the Republic of Ireland are higher than those which apply in Northern Ireland. Some studies in recent years estimated a cost differential against Irish hauliers vis-á-vis their Northern Ireland counterparts of between 11 and 27 per cent. Many of the costs that Irish hauliers have to face, such as vehicle costs, fuel prices, insurance costs, port charges, taxes, and so on lie outside the scope of my remit as Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications.
Within my own area of responsibility, I have consistently adopted a policy of securing increased competition and efficiency in the various sectors of the transport market in respect of both national and international operations. I have also secured increased numbers of multilateral and cabotage authorisations allowing greater access to the EC market and the abolition of the requirement for permits for some countries.
