Transport Committee Chairman highlights benefits of cross-border co-operation on transport issues

Addressing the Joint British Parking Association/Irish Parking Association exhibition and meeting in Belfast, Deputy Lynch highlighted how co-operation in areas such as road safety initiatives, road user education and enforcement and regulation, particularly in relation to fuel laundering, penalty points and vehicle clamping can benefit road users on both sides of the border.

Deputy Lynch, TD said: “This seminar is an example of how, on a cross-border basis, we can identify and develop areas of mutual interest and potential opportunities for co-operation.

The cross-border pilot scheme to share vehicle registration details between the Department of Regional Development in Northern Ireland and the National Vehicle and Driver File operated by the Department of Transport in the Republic, the first such cross-border scheme to be implemented in Europe illustrates the benefit of cross-border co-operation and could act as a template for other areas of collaboration.

The Committee on the Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht recently issued a report on clamping which looked at the necessity for regulating vehicle clamping, both on public and private property, to ensure a consistent and fair approach is applied regardless of whether the property involved is public or private. Many of the recommendations and observations to this report would have relevance for operators, regulators and motorists in Northern Ireland.

Our Committee has also examined the problem of fuel laundering, which is an issue of concern for both jurisdictions as it leads to a loss of revenue and impacts legitimate retailers and road users, as well as the environmental damage caused in communities north and south by the washing out of diesel. More punitive penalties, regular inspections, the introduction of a registration system and an overhaul of current legislation for licensing people who sell oil are crucial to tackling the problem of fuel laundering. Again, this is an area where we can learn from each other and where close co-operation would have beneficial effects.”

For further information please contact:

Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2

P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551

Committee Membership

Deputies:

Ciarán Lynch, Labour Party (Chairman)
Noel Coonan, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
James Bannon, Fine Gael
Paudie Coffey, Fine Gael
Terence Flanagan, Fine Gael
Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, Fine Gael
Tony McLoughlin, Fine Gael
Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael
Brian Walsh, Fine Gael
Kevin Humphreys, Labour Party
Gerald Nash, Labour Party
Seán Kenny, Labour Party
Robert Troy, Fianna Fáil
Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil
Niall Collins, Fianna Fáil
Sandra McLellan, Sinn Féin
Dessie Ellis, Sinn Féin
Brian Stanley, Sinn Féin
Clare Daly, Socialist Party
Catherine Murphy, Independent
Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, Independent
 
Senators:

Cáit Keane, Fine Gael
Catherine Noone, Fine Gael
Labhrás Ó’Murchú, Fianna Fáil
Ned O’Sullivan, Fianna Fáil
Fiach Mac Conghail, Independent