andMr. Timmins asked the Minister for Transport and Power when it is likely that definite proposals will emerge for a reorganisation of CIE following the McKinsey Report.
35.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - McKinsey Report.
34.
andMr. Donnellan asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he is in a position to state what action will be taken on the McKinsey Report concerning CIE.
36.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if the Government have given consideration to the McKinsey Report on CIE; and, if so, if he will make a statement on the matter.
37.
Mr. O'Donnell
asked the Minister for Transport and Power what action, if any, he proposes to take as a result of the McKinsey Report on CIE.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 34, 35, 36 and 37 together.
The McKinsey Report was published at the beginning of October to give the various interested parties the opportunity of submitting to me any observations they wished to offer on the report and on its recommendations. The recommendations in the report will be considered by the Government after consultation with interests concerned.
I am unable to say at this stage when decisions are likely to be taken on the McKinsey recommendations.
Does the Minister consider that the McKinsey Report was worth £60,000? I do not think it was worth 60,000 halfpennies.
Any report which is published to stimulate interest in a vital matter is worthwhile.
Is the Minister aware that the report does not mention Donegal, Wicklow or many other counties? Is he aware that in Northern Ireland at the moment two-thirds of the haulage across the Border is being carried by Northern Ireland hauliers? These hauliers are highly subsidised. Is the Minister aware that Ulster Transport can provide a passenger service at half the cost of that provided by CIE and that the road haulage people there provide such strong competition that the Donegal people cannot compete? Is the Minister aware of these facts?
All of these matters——
I am asking the Minister to reply either "yes" or "no".
If the Deputy will allow me I will reply. All of these matters——
I have asked the Minister to say either "yes" or "no".
The Deputy should allow the Minister to reply.
All of these matters are within the Minister's awareness. That means "yes" if the Deputy prefers it that way.
What does the Minister propose to do about the matter?
In consultation with my colleagues in the Government, I propose to reach appropriate decisions arising out of this report in consultation with all the interests concerned. The matter will be brought before the Dáil in the form of legislation and a full debate can take place.
When will we get a coherent answer from the Minister?
It is only verbiage.
Mr. O'Donnell
Although I agree with Deputy O'Donovan that the McKinsey Report is not worth the paper it is written on, in the Government's consideration of the future role of CIE would the Minister not agree it would be wrong to consider CIE in isolation from the entire national transport network? To enable public debate to take place with a view to formulating a national transport policy, would the Minister agree to produce a White Paper on transport? We have looked for this on several occasions and I consider it is necessary now.
What Deputy O'Donnell has suggested will be done. This will be part of the submission by the Government, after consideration of the McKinsey Report, to this House in the form of legislation. We can have a full debate on these aspects. This is what I have been trying to emphasise.
May I put it to the Minister that both of us have something in common in my request? Does the Minister realise the importance of the rail link with the west of Ireland, in particular to Galway, Castlerea and Castlebar, and would he give the House an assurance that whatever happens this region will get special consideration?
The Deputy will appreciate that this would be a matter for governmental consideration.
May I take it that the Minister will use his good offices in this matter? He has a vested interest in this regard.
The Minister may have noticed recently a Press article in which it was stated we have the most inefficient public haulage system in western Europe. Is he aware that we have only 17 per cent of the total haulage in the country while the average in other countries in western Europe is 30 per cent? Yet, even here we cannot compete. Has the Minister seen the report to which I have referred?
Deputy Harte was noticeably absent when there was a comprehensive debate on this matter on the Road Transport Bill. Deputy O'Donnell was a major contributor in this House. The purpose of that legislation is to divert more traffic to the professional haulage industry and away from own account haulage. There was a full debate on the matter.
I have asked the Minister if he was aware of the Press statement that we have a less efficient public haulage service here despite the fact that we have only 17 per cent of the national haulage?
The Deputy should read what Deputy O'Donnell said——
What does the Minister propose to do about this matter?
Will the Minister accept submissions from any Deputy on the McKinsey Report?
I will.
I have a detailed submission for him.
I should be very glad to get it because all the submissions I have received from Deputy Coughlan during the years have been extremely helpful.