asked the Minister for Finance if he will reconsider the present system of cross-Border traffic regulations, with special reference to the abolition of the two shilling request fee payable between the hours of midnight and 8 a.m. for each exit and entry, in view of the fact that a person wishing to travel from Monaghan to Lifford and back during the closed hours must pay four shillings request fee and make prior arrangements with the Irish customs officials, a procedure which in many cases can be most inconvenient; and if, in view of the fact that the British authorities allow free entry and exit, he will make new regulations so that cross-Border traffic can be more convenient.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cross-Border Traffic.
35.
Following on a full review of cross-Border traffic facilities carried out recently, the hours during which attendance may be obtained without prior request have been extended. At Lifford Bridge a full 24 hours service is being maintained and prior request is no longer required, while at Moybridge, County Monaghan, prior request is now required only between 3 a.m. and 8 a.m.
The charge of 2/- per vehicle made for customs clearance between the hours of 12 midnight and 7 a.m. enables service during these hours to be provided without appreciable cost to the general taxpayer while its effect on the individual private motorists and traders who avail of the service is inconsiderable. I am not prepared to abolish the charge.
Surely it is right that an Irish citizen who wishes to travel in any direction over the Border should be able to do so, bearing in mind that the British authorities allow citizens on both sides of this Border to transfer——
That is not a question; it is an argument.
I am asking the Parliamentary Secretary if he appreciates the point of view. Surely when the British authorities allow this to happen, this country, particularly the Government in office who have talked so much about the Border being abolished, should abolish this pernicious charge?
The Deputy is making a speech. He should ask a question.
I am asking him a question. I am asking the Parliamentary Secretary if he is aware that the Irish Customs collect 2/- for every exit and entry when a person wishes to cross the Border while the British Customs allow free transfers or free traffic flow between the two areas.
The Deputy should ask a question and not make a statement.
I think the point is that the Deputy wrongly suggests that the service provided by the British authorities is free. It is a question of whether the service provided is paid for by the people who avail of it or by the general taxpayer and I think the present arrangement is the more equitable one. If that arrangement did not exist, the burden of payment would fall on the general taxpayer, and it would be a considerable burden.
It is not true to say that the taxpayers are paying for the British service. The British Customs are on duty between the hours of midnight and 8 a.m. and any person who has a bond which entitles him to cross the Border with his vehicle is entitled to do so.
The customs service provided by the British authorities is not provided free. It is apparently provided out of general taxation. Ours is not.
36.
asked the Minister for Finance if, to facilitate and expedite vehicular traffic between north and south, he will request the Revenue Commissioners to abolish the delaying procedure of stamping pass books for vehicles at the various frontier posts.
The answer is in the negative. The Revenue Commissioners assure me that the stamping of the passes is an essential feature of customs control on the land frontier.