asked the Taoiseach the proposals he has to assign sole responsibility for transport matters to the Minister for Transport.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Transport maters Responsibility.
2.
I have no immediate proposals to assign sole responsibility for transport matters to the Minister for Transport. However, the possibility of transferring certain functions currently exercised by the Minister for Labour in relation to road transport crews—involving primarily the administration of the EEC tachograph regulations—is under examination at present.
Would the Taoiseach agree that there are some administrative difficulties which can only be relieved in the Department of Transport by transferring certain duties from the Departments of the Environment and Justice?
I am aware that there are considerable difficulties in deciding on the optimal division of responsibility in this area. That is illustrated by the fact that my file contains no less than a score of letters between Ministers of the preceding Government seeking to sort out this matter which they had not done by the time they relinquished office.
As the Taoiseach found it politically advisable to change certain Departments and to give them to certain political heads, he might show the same wisdom in dealing with this matter.
I will always show any wisdom I am capable of showing in any of these matters.