asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state why shopkeepers and general merchants are not allowed to convey their goods from railway stations in their own vehicles; and why public carriers are not allowed to carry such goods; if he will state further if Córas Iompair Éireann have a monopoly of the haulage business; and if public carriers will be compensated for loss of employment.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Transport of Goods from Railway Stations.
So far as I am aware, there is nothing to prevent shopkeepers and general merchants from arranging with suppliers to consign goods to the railway station of destination to be taken delivery of by them or by carriers paid by them. The third and fourth parts of the question do not therefore arise.
Does not the Minister know that in certain areas of this country shopkeepers and merchants are not allowed to operate a lorry at all?
That is a separate question altogether.
It is not a separate question. The question on the Order Paper asks: "if he will state why shopkeepers and general merchants are not allowed to convey their goods from railway stations in their own vehicles".
Yes. The vehicles need not necessarily be lorries.
They need not but there are areas in which men own motor lorries and desire to carry goods from the railway station, three or four miles, and they must leave their lorries in their sheds because they are not allowed to use them under the Emergency Powers Order made by the Minister prohibiting the use of lorries by private individuals in certain areas.
Not alone does that affect the conveyance of stuff from the station, but there is also this point, in the case of returnable empties, they must be left there until such time as Córas Iompair Éireann will collect them.
That is certainly true.
Another point arises. Suppose that for any reason a man has to put empties outside his business premises, on the kerb, and that somebody walking on the path is injured thereby, the owner of the premises or the owner of the empties is liable for compensation.
That is perfectly true.
That is a separate question.