Vol. 241 No. 10
asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether, in view of the grave dissatisfaction existing among those engaged in the cattle trade regarding the question of transport of cattle from livestock marts, he will consider altering the regulations governing the use of private lorries and the licensing of hauliers.
212.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will make a comprehensive statement on the amendments to the Road Transport Acts which have been under consideration in his Department.
213.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether he is yet in a position to indicate his decision on the representations of licensed hauliers for relaxation of the restrictions imposed on their operations by the Road Transport Act.
214.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if there are any proposals to amend legislation governing the haulage of livestock by road.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 211, 212, 213, 214 together.
I propose to introduce legislation removing the carriage of cattle, sheep and pigs from the scope of the Road Transport Acts, so as to allow their carriage for reward without a merchandise licence.
I also propose within the existing number of licensed vehicles to permit all "existing carrier" licenses to operate vehicles without restriction in regard to area, weight or commodity. In effect, this means that every such carrier will be in a position to carry general merchandise throughout the 26 Counties without any weight or commodity limitation subject to compliance with road traffic legislation.
These relaxations will not apply to the limited licences issued to deal with specialised traffics such as newspapers which cannot be used for ordinary haulage business.
I hope to have the proposed Bill introduced at an early stage and the proposals can then be fully debated.
Can the Minister give any indication as to when he proposes to bring in this legislation?
The Deputy can take it that it is in the course of drafting and I hope to introduce it before the end of the year.
Will it be confined solely to livestock or will it be extended to ordinary merchandise? If so, will it mean that all merchandise licensees will not have any restrictions imposed on them? Will they be able to travel throughout the 26 Counties or may they travel throughout the 32 Counties?
There are two aspects to this question. On the agricultural side, in which cattle, sheep and pigs are concerned, there will be total liberalisation, no restriction. That means, if we pass this legislation, that anybody can convey cattle, sheep and pigs where they wish within the jurisdiction. On the other side, in regard to existing licensees who hold licences, what is proposed is that each will have a 26-County licence without any restriction in regard to weight, commodity or area, so that as far as they are concerned, in effect what will happen is that every existing holder of a haulage licence will have a haulage licence without restriction or inhibition of any kind.
In view of this liberalisation of road transport, what will the position be in regard to existing prosecutions?
Sin ceist eile.
Can the Minister say, following consultation with the licensed haulage associations, that there is broad agreement on the legislation he proposes to introduce?
I have had consultations with two groups representing licensed hauliers, with the General Council of County Committees of Agriculture, with the Beet Growers' Association, with CIE and with a number of others——
The cattle traders?
——and the cattle traders. During the past few months I have had full consultation with all interested bodies and by and large the solution I have suggested appears to be acceptable to all bodies concerned.
