Joint Committee on the Secondary Legislation of the European Communities debate -
Wednesday, 24 Mar 1976

Operation of the Markets in Surface Goods Transport and Common Rules for Bus and Coach Services.

Chairman

Now we come to the final draft Report. These are fairly complex and technical proposals. They have been fairly clearly dealt with in the Report. The best thing I can do is leave it to any Member who would like to comment or raise any question in regard to them. They are part of the process of developing a common transport policy for the Community. I may say, in this regard at sub-committee level we had the assistance of very competent experts from the Department of Transport and Power who made a complicated situation appear reasonably simple.

Paragraph 1 agreed to.

Deputy Esmonde

I suppose this frontier zone reference in paragraph 2 does not have any particular implications for this country. Does it lead us to any sort of culpable disadvantage having regard to our small size? I take it they will become ports of entry. Have any points been raised about that?

Chairman

Yes. We discussed this in very considerable detail with the expert who was here.

Deputy Esmonde

Yes, what was the position? I am just wondering if we are at any disadvantage by virtue of our size, that we would be always in the frontier zone base.

Chairman

Yes, at one stage our expert pointed out to us that practically all of Donegal will be brought within the frontier area.

Deputy Esmonde

It depends just what port they come in at. The whole of Ireland is within the frontier zone.

Chairman

It is set out in the Report, page 3, in the second paragraph:

Nevertheless, it is concerned that the uniform application of the proposed provisions throughout the Community may have the effect of requiring a relatively larger contribution to the process of liberalisation from a small country like Ireland than is asked for from the larger States. An area of 50 kilometres in depth takes in a relatively large part of the State.

Deputy Esmonde

I think that this would be to the advantage of foreign hauliers whilst for Irish hauliers going to the Continent, 50 kilometres or whatever it is, is a small distance in regard to the distance having to be travelled on the Continent. It will be weighted against our hauliers.

Chairman

Yes, I am glad you raised the point. The only thing I can say is that the Department of Transport and Power are very alert to this and they are pursuing discussions on it.

Deputy Esmonde

It would be to the advantage of Irish hauliers if there was some amendment to this proposal so far as Ireland is concerned. There should be a different law.

Chairman

They also pointed out that 50 kilometres brings us very near to the 15 mile Dublin zone.

Deputy Esmonde

You can come in from Rosslare, that is a certain distance, and you come in from Dublin if you want to get the other distances.

Chairman

British hauliers must come in through the North of Ireland to qualify.

Deputy Esmonde

But we are talking about Continental hauliers now who are doing a large part of the business here. We have plenty of people who could well do with a living on that line here.

Chairman

Yes, the Department of Transport and Power assured us that they are very conscious of that aspect and are anxious to protect the interests of the Irish transport industry here.

Deputy Esmonde

I notice just one thing here. We make acknowledgment to CIE but have we dealt with any private hauliers' organisations before we come to a final conclusion on this?

Chairman

We sought assistance from the private sector on a number of occasions but we did not succeed in getting anybody to give us their views.

Deputy Esmonde

I know there is some concern among certain private hauliers.

Chairman

We sought advice and assistance from private haulier interests but we did not succeed in getting anybody to come to us or give us any submissions.

Deputy Esmonde

That is a pity. So far as this haulier business is concerned, it is mainly private concerns that would be affected by this. As far as I know CIE are not indulging in trans-border transport. It is purely a matter for the private sector. This is what I would be concerned about. Therefore, we may not have the proper picture in front of us.

Chairman

I think we have because even though the private transport haulier sector did not come before us or did not submit any views to us we were quite satisfied in a discussion with the officials of the Department of Transport and Power that they are very much aware of the interest of that sector and are very anxious to protect the Irish private haulier industry in these sort of circumstances.

Deputy Esmonde

I want to make it absolutely clear so far as we are concerned as a Committee here. I have voiced my surprise that the private hauliers have not come in on this thing and if they have complaints it might be too late and they should not blame us.

Chairman

At this stage any submissions they would wish to make should be made now direct to the Department.

Deputy Esmonde

They should, yes. If necessary, if they even came to us later on we would be prepared to listen to them, but they would have to do it soon.

Chairman

Certainly.

Paragraphs 2 to 11, inclusive, agreed to.

Draft Report agreed to.

Ordered: To report accordingly.

Chairman

Thank you very much, Deputies and Senators. That concludes our business. We have a sub-committee meeting tomorrow at 11.30 a.m.; an Oireachtas sub-committee dealing with 12 Statutory Instruments made under the European Communities Act, 1972. Thank you very much.

The Committee adjourned at 5.10 p.m.