asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will request CIE to commence immediately the £2 million development project for Rosslare Harbour, County Wexford, plans for which have been in existence for 12 months.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rosslare Harbour Development.
19.
I have only very recently received from CIE their proposals for development works at Rosslare Harbour and I am having them examined.
Is the Minister aware that CIE have proposals for the extension of Rosslare Harbour for over a year, that Rosslare is on the brink of losing the St. Patrick, a boat which is coming in there, because of the lack one berthage and because of the lack of finance for CIE to carry out this extension?
No. The assumptions on which the Deputy's supplementary is based are false. Rosslare is in no danger of losing the St. Patrick, and the Managing Director of the Irish Continental Lines has said this. Even though CIE may have had proposals for a year—I do not know; I have seen reports to this effect—they did not arrive in my Department until last week.
Is the Minister aware that in an article which appeared in Business and Finance of 27th February Mr. Mcllhatton, who is General Manager of Irish Continental Lines, made this statement——
The Deputy is bringing a new matter into this question.
He did not say that. He said that because of pressure during the summer from tourist traffic they were not able to accommodate some of the normal freight they carried throughout the year, and they were investigating the possibility at the moment of getting another ship to take freight during the peak summer period only. He said nothing about the St. Patrick leaving Rosslare.
He said that boat would go to Cork?
No, he did not.
Let us not have argument.
Is the Minister further aware that in Rosslare in the peak period of the year the St. Patrick has to pull out if it is not fully loaded to make room for the British Railways ship?
That is a separate matter.
I know. There is only one berth in Rosslare which car ferries can back into.
But——
No. 20. The Deputy must at some time obey the Chair.
I have asked only two supplementaries.
The Deputy has asked a series of supplementary questions.
20.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if his Department has issued a directive in relation to licences governing the entry of foreign-owned commercial vehicles into Ireland: if so, if he is aware of the serious implications of this step for the future development of Rosslare Harbour, County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
No. The entry of foreign-owned commercial vehicles into this country is governed by the provisions of the Road Transport Acts. Such entry is licensed on a liberal basis but as the details are somewhat complex I issued an information notice in the matter in January, 1975 for the guidance of road hauliers and the customs authorities.
Current practice permits a wide variety of operations for the delivery and collection of merchandise through Rosslare Harbour.
Is it true to say in regard to British-owned commercial vehicles coming in here that there is a limitation of a 15-mile radius from the port of entry?
That is not a limitation on British-owned vehicles. That is a limitation on road haulage in this country. Any operator is free to carry goods within a 15-mile radius of the GPO in Dublin or the GPO in Cork. It has nothing to do with vehicles coming off a boat. It is a general restriction on road haulage.
But regarding Rosslare Harbour, is there not a 15-mile limit——
No, there is no 15-mile radius limit at Rosslare Harbour. Anybody who comes into Rosslare Harbour may carry his goods to the point at which he wants to deliver them.