Vol. 472 No. 5
21 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the steps, if any, he took as President of the EU Transport Council to ensure that member countries' freedom to transport goods through other member states is upheld in view of the French lorry drivers blockade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23480/96]
34 Mr. Nolan asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the representations, if any, he has made to the French Government seeking compensation for Irish agricultural producers who have suffered financial loss as a result of the French transport strike; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23369/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 34 together.
At a very early stage in the blockades throughout France the Irish Embassy in Paris made strong representations, on my instructions, on behalf of Irish hauliers affected by the strike. These interventions drew attention to the particular difficulties being experienced by Irish hauliers as result of the blockades and asked that every assistance be afforded to them in order that they could proceed on their journeys. In response, the French Transport Ministry outlined the efforts being made to assist foreign drivers to return home and requested details of any Irish drivers with particular difficulties in order to see if anything further could be done to help them.
At an Internal Market Council held on 26 November Ireland, along with a number of other member states, expressed concern about the adverse effects of the strike upon the functioning of the internal market and requested the French Government to intervene in the dispute.
