asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he will consider granting further merchandise licences to owners of lorries in areas where Córas Iompair Éireann are unable to cope with the volume of work offering.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers - Merchandise Licences for Lorry Owners.
Córas Iompair Éireann are ready to augment their auxiliary fleet of hired lorries if they should find this necessary to cope with the volume of traffic offering in any area. I do not propose to grant further merchandise licences in present circumstances.
Is the Minister aware that in cases where certain types of goods have to be urgently transported Córas Iompair Éireann refuse to haul them, and in view of the company's refusal to undertake the haulage of certain commodities will the Minister grant the necessary permission to private lorry owners in the interests of public convenience?
In ordinary circumstances Córas Iompair Éireann are common railway carriers and are obliged to take all goods offered to them for transportation. They have been relieved to some extent of that obligation by Order during the present crisis, but in normal conditions they cannot refuse to accept any goods offered for haulage.