asked the Minister for Transport and Power what steps he is taking to ensure that all State and semi-State haulage contracts are given to CIE, in view of the present critical financial difficulties of that company.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Haulage Contracts.
38.
There is a standing agreement that State and semi-State bodies should place their transport business with CIE provided the board's terms are not less favourable than those otherwise available but I consider that they should have the same freedom as other undertakings to choose the most convenient and most economic form of transport.
I am endeavouring to create conditions for our professional haulage industry, including CIE, to enable them to capture, under competitive conditions, from own account transport a much higher proportion of freight transport. The Road Transport Act, 1971, was brought into force for this purpose, and I am at present considering the recommendations of the McKinsey report which are directed towards solving CIE's financial difficulties and improving the company's competitive position.
Does the Minister not realise that the answer he has read out is in complete contradiction to a previous reply when he said that the purpose of the Road Transport Act was to divert from own account haulage to independent haulage? What has happened is that a great deal of transport has been diverted from CIE, as the Labour Party said it would be. Would the Minister tell me when he will introduce the enormous Supplementary Estimate this year for CIE since he put only £2½ million in his Estimate and the company are going to lose five or six times that amount?
I am concerned about the very many jobs that exist in CIE.
The Minister cannot ride two different horses at the same time—one going in one direction in favour of private hauliers and the other supposed to be in favour of the State company. The Minister cannot ride both horses at the same time.
I am calling Question No. 39.