Vol. 500 No. 4
158 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the assessment, if any, she has carried out on the profitability of road haulage in Ireland compared to our EU partners; the cost per kilometre or mile of each tonne carried; if her attention has been drawn to hauliers being effectively forced to overcarry for competitive and profitable purposes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4232/99]
A consultants' report on the Irish road haulage sector is currently in course of preparation. It is expected that, as part of the report, Irish haulage costs will be compared with similar costs in the United Kingdom, Holland and Germany and published in due course. In relation to overweight haulage, the position is that section 17 of the Road Transport Bill, 1998, contains provisions aimed at making consignors as well as the driver and the owner of the vehicle liable for presecution where the law relating to laden weight is breached.
