I will call Deputies in the order in which they submitted their questions.
Private Notice Questions. - French Lorry Drivers' Blockade.
asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the steps the Government has taken on a bilateral basis with the French authorities to outline the extent of the losses and hardship being experienced by Irish hauliers and exporters; the efforts the Minister and the Government will make at EU level to seek the intervention of the EU Transport Commissioner and Transport Council of Ministers in either a mediation role or to provide compensatory mechanisms for those worst affected; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the steps, if any, she is taking to assist Irish truck drivers trapped in France as a result of the French truckers strike; if, in view of the potentially serious implications for Irish exporters and hauliers caused by the French dispute, she intends to make any representations to the French Government or to the EU regarding a solution to the dispute; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the action, if any, she will take to protect the free movement of Irish goods and services throughout the EU; and the action, if any, she has taken to ensure Irish exporters and haulage operators are compensated for losses sustained during the current French lorry drivers blockade of ports and highways in France and during the previous blockade by French lorry drivers' and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Thank you for allowing me to answer the questions put by Deputies Yates, Stagg and Gilmore.
I informed my counterpart in France, the president of the Transport Council of Ministers and Commissioner Kinnock that a debate will take place today in the Irish Parliament on the matter which we will convey to them.
Prior to the disruption which commenced on Sunday, I wrote to my French counterpart, Minister Jean Gayssot on Friday last expressing my deep concern about the serious impact the blockades will have on Irish trade. That letter was faxed immediately. I pointed out to him that we are heavily reliant on trade and that, as an island nation, we are very dependent on road freight for our imports and exports. I requested him to use his good offices to bring about an early settlement of the dispute.
On Friday last I also spoke to the Irish Road Haulage Association and have had three further discussions with it. I have also been in regular contact with the Irish Exporters Association, as has the Minister of State, Deputy Jacob. He has also been in regular contact with the Irish Road Haulage Association. The Taoiseach wrote to
Prime Minister Jospin to express his concern about the impact of the dispute on the Irish economy.
Yesterday I contacted Commissioner Kinnock's office. I made him fully aware of the effects of the dispute on Irish trade. I also stressed to him that he should use his position to ensure the French authorities do everything possible to ensure they meet their obligations under the EU treaties regarding the free movement of goods and people. Commissioner Kinnock assured me he was monitoring the dispute on an hour by hour basis and would keep in regular contact with me. He emphasised that he can only directly intervene under Article 30, if the relevant Government does not actively seek a solution. He said the relevant Government was actively seeking a solution, and this was evident in the limited lifting of blockades and in making information known to those affected.
I also wrote and spoke to the Luxembourg Transport Minister, Madame Mady Delvaux, requesting her to convene an emergency meeting of the EU Transport Council to discuss the French dispute. These contacts were made on Friday last and on Monday. On Friday last the French dispute was raised at the Committee of Permanent Representatives in Brussels. A number of member states, including Ireland, made strong statements expressing concern about the violation of the principle of free movement enshrined in the treaties. As Commissioner Kinnock said, he has the power only to intervene if the domestic government does not do so. I will continue to monitor the situation closely and exert pressure to bring about an early settlement of the dispute.
As regards compensation, to which a question referred, I understand Irish claims arising from the previous dispute were only recently submitted to the French authorities through the Irish Road Haulage Association which is utilising a firm of solicitors from Leeds. On their advice, they have only now submitted their claims. In hindsight, they were wise because claims for compensation made earlier by other countries have been returned as the information provided was inadequate. The Irish Road Haulage Association submitted very comprehensive claims in recent weeks which I hope will soon be paid. Because of the care which has been taken to properly document Irish claims, I am confident the French authorities will respond quickly and positively. The experience gained with those claims will assist in preparing any claims arising from the current dispute.
The staff at the Irish Embassy in Paris will be available to give assistance to drivers in difficulties arising from the dispute. This will include advice, normal consular services and assistance in cases of emergency.
Do I take it from the Minister's reply that the extent of her activities to date has been two letters, one written on Friday and the other on Monday, to her French opposite number and a similar correspondence with Commissioner Kinnock? Does she consider that mere correspondence is wholly inadequate given the proportions of the present difficulties in which hauliers are being asked to take precarious routes risking their £120,000 vehicles while facing the prospect of not having fuel? Does she agree the response of the British Government whereby the Prime Minister Mr. Blair spent 15 minutes on the telephone to Prime Minister Mr. Jospin this morning would be a more appropriate way to deal with the gravity of this situation?
I spoke directly and at length to Commissioner Kinnock, who was in Portugal yesterday, and I also contacted his office. The Deputy is in incorrect in his assumption.
Will the Minister tell the House how many Irish truck drivers are stranded in France? Will she give an indication of the potential loss to the economy of this continuing dispute? Has she examined possible sanctions that might be imposed by the European Union against France for its failure to maintain free movement of goods and people, which is guaranteed under the EU treaties?
In response to the Deputy's last question, I spoke directly to Commissioner Kinnock about sanctions. He said if a domestic government makes efforts to intervene or to settle a dispute, which in this case affects free movement which is enshrined in the Treaty of Rome and emphasised in subsequent treaties, neither he nor the EU has the power of sanction. He said he will continue to monitor the dispute on an hour by hour basis. I doubt if there will be a slip in efforts made by the French Government who also wish to settle the dispute.
On how many trucks are impounded in France, numbers from the Irish Road Haulage Association, the embassy and our permanent representative vary. It is, however, a considerable number amounting to several hundred. The Deputy asked if I had an idea of the financial loss to exporters. The number is considerable and amounts to several hundred.
The financial loss to exporters varies and depends on what gets through. However, it amounts to a few million pounds every day. These markets were hard won by Irish firms and if the blockade continues they may be lost.
What aid is being given to them now?
I join the Minister in congratulating the Irish Road Haulage Association on the expert way it has handled the dispute. As someone who handled a similar dispute, I congratulate the Minister on the way she is handling this one. She is doing all that can be done.
Will the Minister agree that approximately 500 Irish trucks are stranded in France? Two of these trucks were badly damaged during a riot in Lyon last night. Will the Minister ask the Commissioner to ask the Commission to set up a compensatory fund to pay Irish road hauliers outstanding moneys of approximately £6 million, £1.4 million of which is due to the owners of one lorry who are on the breadline?
During the previous dispute the Minister's counterpart gave an absolute undertaking that the red tape, for which our French colleagues are famous, would be cut and payment would be made quickly. Will the Minister agree that the red tape has been increased and that not one penny in compensation arising from the previous blockade has been paid to date? Given that the treaty is absolute in regard to the free movement of goods and services throughout the EU, the Commission must ensure compensation is paid to those who cannot freely move their goods.
I agree with the points made by the Deputy about the Irish Road Haulage Association. It has made great efforts to resolve this matter and has been in constant touch with my office and the Minister of State, Deputy Joe Jacob. It has also been in contact with the hauliers caught in the blockade and has provided a 24 hour service to them.
On the question of compensation, the Irish Road Haulage Association processed all the compensation claims arising out of the previous French dispute through a Leeds firm of solicitors. Great care was taken to ensure that each claim was properly documented with charts, ferry tickets, fuel receipts etc. It is important to state that the first 20 claims were submitted only in October. However, I share the Deputy's concerns about the level of French bureaucracy which, by its nature, will slow up matters. That is the reason the Irish Road Haulage Association wanted to ensure queries could not be raised about claims. I will speak with Commissioner Kinnock for a third time this evening and will ask him to look seriously at the compensation claims in addition to the fire brigade action.
Particularly the claims for the owners of single vehicles.
Does the Government view this matter with sufficient seriousness that the Taoiseach will contact Prime Minister Jospin as the British Government has done? Are there any proposals to hold a meeting of Transport Ministers? Leaving aside the blockade, is the Minister aware that 12 of the 13 oil refineries in France are closed and that this will lead to a further crisis whereby vehicles will not have access to fuel and will not, therefore, be able to return home? Does the Minister propose to raise this matter with the French Government?
I admire the Deputy's assiduousness and am not trying to be smart but I have dealt with the points raised.
The Minister did not say if the Taoiseach will contact his opposite number in France.
The Deputy asked three questions and I will deal with them separately. The first question related to the Taoiseach. He has written in the strongest possible terms and his office has been in contact——
Is that not somewhat lethargic in the present circumstances?
I understand the Taoiseach intends to use every——
It takes three or four days for a letter to reach France.
I see Deputy Owen is back. The Taoiseach will raise the matter immediately.
I raised by way of letter and orally the possibility of holding a meeting of the Council of Transport Ministers. The President of the Transport Council said that another country had raised the matter with her, she had heard from many other countries and would give the matter consideration. However, she also asked what precisely would happen when we met and what we could do apart from the moral imperative.
A hardship fund could be set up for the hauliers who have been left stranded.
The Deputy is all action now but he never went to Dublin Airport.
Fifteen-love.
I did a deal I can stand over but which has not been improved by the Government.
He did not have to rely on letters.
(Interruptions.)
The Deputy asked if I was aware that 12 of the 13 oil refineries in France were closed. The Deputy is not up to date as the 13 refineries are closed.
What is the Minister doing about it?
The Minister said there was a variety of figures on the number of trucks stranded in France. What is the considered assessment of her Department on the number of trucks stranded? Given that the blocking of roads and ports is becoming a habit in French industrial and agricultural disputes, has the Minister formulated proposals to put to a meeting of the Council of Transport Ministers on action which could be taken to prevent the repeated disruption of transport throughout Europe by French national and internal disputes?
My Department's estimate of the number of trucks stranded in France is not precise as we are receiving information from many sources — the Embassy, the permanent representatives, our counterparts in other countries and the Irish Road Haulage Association. The number is several hundred but I will endeavour to get the precise figure.
I take the Deputy's point that the blocking of ports has become a common feature in French disputes. I have been considering the need to put forward to the Council of Transport Ministers definite measures which can be taken to deal with this matter. Notwithstanding the fact that Article 30 of the treaty allows for the free movement of goods and services and includes a caveat on intervention in disputes, it is time to give consideration to an EU directive which will prevent such blockades.
I agree with Deputy Stagg that the owners of single vehicles should be paid compensation first as they are the ones who have been most disadvantaged in financial terms by the blockade. I told the Commissioner, the President of the Transport Council and my French counterpart that we were having a cross-party debate on the matter today and that everyone was of one mind. I do not see it as a party political issue but one on which we alI want to work to free the trucks so that exports can continue. I will do everything possible by positive intervention to resolve the matter. Because we are an island, we are the most disadvantaged country, but I give a commitment that I shall continue to intervene in every way possible. The Minister of State, Deputy Jacob, will accompany members of the Irish Road Haulage Association to Brussels next Thursday for a meeting with Commissioner Kinnock. When I leave the Dáil this evening I will have my third conversation with Commissioner Kinnock and will continue to press to have the problem solved.
I am sure the Minister is aware that £1.4 million is due to single lorry owners arising from the previous claim and I welcome her decision to give priority to that matter. Will she make strong representations to seek, as a matter of urgency, additional eco points which are required to cross Austria? The cost of travelling through Italy and Spain is higher, in the order of 15 per cent and 25 per cent respectively, and it is not fair the road haulage section should bear all that cost. If it is not recoverable, the cost should be spread among all those involved. I ask the Minister to use her good offices with IBEC and others to that end.
I intended to raise the matter of eco points and I thank Deputy Stagg for doing so. Austria has had a derogation for several years whereby the number of heavy duty trucks crossing that country is based on a system of eco points, or payment for passage, so to speak. We have already used a considerable number of our eco points. This morning I asked the Department to seek extra eco points to allow a greater number of haulage trucks to use the Austrian route. As the Deputy said, the alternative routes are not as direct and are more costly.
I will continue to press the matter of compensation. The claims have just been produced. Single truck owners stand to lose much more and are more likely to go out of business if they are kept waiting for their money. I will use my influence with IBEC and other bodies in dealing with the matter.
Will the Minister agree, if a factory was about to close down with the loss of 300 to 400 jobs, either she or another Minister would be on the plane to France, Germany, Spain, America, Japan or wherever to communicate with the parent company? Given that Commissioner Kinnock has told her he can do very little about the dispute, why will she not go to France to meet her counterpart rather than send letters which may or may not arrive?
She is sending the Minister of State, Deputy Jacob——
She is sending him to Brussels. He always gets the thin edge of the wedge — he was given the job of dealing with the people in County Louth with whom the Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, would not deal. Will the Minister explain why she or the Tánaiste, Deputy Harney, have not given this matter the urgency it deserves? Road hauliers would not approve of the Minister's jocose attitude here today. This is a serious issue, with thousands of jobs under threat — apart from the 22 per cent of exports to Great Britain, 44 per cent of our exports are to the European Community — yet the Minister sits here with an expression on her face as if writing letters is enough.
I would not stoop so low as to discuss people's faces.
The road hauliers will not thank the Minister for the way she is treating this issue. It is not a flippant issue.
It was Deputy Owen who raised the matter of facial expressions.
The Minister should go to France.
Since last Friday I have been in continuous contact, orally and in writing, with all the players in this field. The Irish Road Haulage Association expressed its appreciation, to me and to the Minister of State, Deputy Jacob, yesterday on RTÉ and again today, of the role we played in this. I did not put words in its mouth; it made the statement. Commissioner Kinnock informed me directly in conversation, not by letter, he is continuing to monitor and review the matter and will continue to keep in touch with me and the other countries affected. I am in contact with the exporters, the Irish Road Haulage Association and all the relevant parties in the dispute. All my energies and those of my Department are brought to bear on this matter. I take very seriously the loss of exports to hard-won markets. Those involved will not find me wanting in terms of real measures to deal with this matter.
(Dublin West): Is the Minister aware the vast majority of French truck drivers are forced to work very long hours for low pay, that they have a deep sense of grievance and feel betrayed by employers who reneged on a previous agreement? In the past 24 hours has she heard several Irish drivers on the airwaves, some of whom are stranded in France, express sympathy with the French drivers? Will she confirm she will urge the French Government to bring about an immediate end to the strike by granting to truck drivers their just demands?
I understand the Deputy's view, but he will understand I could not possibly intervene in trade relations or matters of wages and conditions of the French trucking industry. I heard some of the discussions to which he alluded. I expect the matter may be discussed at European level, but it would be outside my remit to tell the French Minister to consider pay and conditions of employees in that country.