Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 12 Nov 1997

Vol. 482 No. 6

Written Answers. - French Lorry Drivers Dispute.

Emmet Stagg

Question:

21 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the action, if any, she has taken to minimise the effect of the French truckers' blockade on Irish businesses and jobs; the proposals, if any, she has to pay compensation to those who suffer losses from the blockade and from past blockades; if alternative routes to the European markets have been, or are being, developed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18978/97]

Ivan Yates

Question:

133 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the steps, if any, she has taken to support the claim for compensation by Irish road haulage operators in view of the losses incurred during the French truckers' dispute over the past year; and the representations, if any, she will make to the French authorities in this regard. [18583/97]

Minister of State at the Department of Public Enterprise (Mr. Jacob)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 133 together.

Prior to and during the recent five day truck drivers' dispute in France, the Minister and myself made a number of strong representations and personal contacts for the purpose of exerting pressure on those in a position to influence matters both in France and in the European Union institutions to bring about an early settlement of the dispute. A further aim of those contacts was to ensure that they were aware of the seriousness of the matter both for the Irish haulage sector and Irish trade.

Prior to the dispute on Friday, 31 October the Minister wrote to the Minister for Transport, Jean-Claude Gayssot.

On Monday, 3 November the Taoiseach wrote to French Prime Minister Jospin expressing his concern about the impact of the strike on Irish exports to France and other European countries such as Spain, Portugal and Italy to which Irish goods would normally transit via road to France.

On Tuesday the Minister wrote to the President of the Council of Ministers, Ms Mady Delvaux-Stehres who is Minister for Transport in Luxembourg and requested her to consider convening an extraordinary Council of Ministers in view of the situation. The Minister also spoke to Minister Delvaux on the matter.

The Minister spoke to Commissioner Kinnock a number of times during the dispute and I travelled to Brussels on Thursday, 5 November to bring the Government's concerns over the situation to Commissioner Kinnock's attention. On Wednesday evening the Taoiseach and Prime Minister Jospin had a long telephone conversation about the problem. The Prime Minister outlined the steps taken by the French Government to get the sides together. The Prime Minister also stressed that he was pressing for a lasting settlement this time.

During the week I kept in close contact with the Irish Road Haulage Association, IBEC, the Irish Exporters' Association and the Irish Farmers Association. I am glad to say that the dispute was settled before the worst impacts of the strike were felt here.

The Irish Embassy in Paris also stayed in close contact with senior advisers to the French Transport Minister during the dispute.

Up-to-date information on roadblocks was relayed to my Department every few hours during the week and this information was shared with the Irish Road Haulage Association.

The position in relation to alternative routes is as follows:

Roll on-roll off traffic could only reach Spain and Portugal via ferry from the English ports of Portsmouth and Plymouth. Gaelic Ferries, which recently inaugurated a ferry service from Ringaskiddy, County Cork, to France, diverted that ferry to Spain during the week providing an alternative route. The Pandoro service from Rosslare to Cherbourg diverted to Holland.

The normal transit route to Italy for Irish road freight is via France. An alternative route via Belgium, Germany and Austria was available throughout the week.

The payment of compensation in relation to this dispute and the November 1996 strike is a matter for the French authorities. In relation to Irish claims for compensation arising out of the November 1996 strike, I understand that the Irish Road Haulage Association has retained a firm of UK solicitors to prepare claims. Great care has been taken to prepare all Irish claims with the best possible documentary proof and supporting evidence and the first of these were submitted recently. While the French track record in relation to claims from United Kingdom hauliers and hauliers from other member states is extremely poor, I am confident that Irish claims will be dealt with quickly and positively.

The Minister has written to the French Transport Minister expressing appreciation for the work of the French Government in bringing about a speedy settlement to the dispute and urging that Irish hauliers' claims for compensation for both this and last year's dispute should be satisfactorily settled without delay. She has also asked the Luxembourg Transport Minister to include the compensation issue on the agenda of the December Transport Council.