asked the Minister for Labour if he will secure our derogation from the EEC proposals to introduce the tachograph on haulage vehicles and to limit drivers' hours, since they are totally unsuited to our situation.
6.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Haulage Vehicles Proposals.
5.
asked the Minister for Labour if he will make a statement on the position in relation to the EEC directive that provides that the daily hours worked by haulage truck drivers should be limited; and whether he is aware that the introduction of such a directive will add greatly to the cost of haulage between remote parts of the State and the Dublin area, thus penalising traders and exporters in the west and north-west.
I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle to take Questions Nos. 5 and 6 together.
After a number of deferrals, and a phasing in period EEC Council Regulation No. 543/69 on drivers' hours and related matters entered fully into Irish law on 1 January 1981 while Council Regulation No. 1463/70 on the tachograph will be fully applicable from 1 December next.
Does the Minister agree that the introduction of the tachograph on January 1 is somewhat premature because his colleague, the Minister for Transport, has not yet issued any statement concerning his proposals following the publication of the report of the Transport Consultative Commission on the haulage business?
I am aware that implementation of these EEC regulations has been a difficult issue for the Irish transport industry. However, the problems which the regulations involve for the Irish industry have been fully argued in the negotiations over a number of years to obtain from the EEC Council of Ministers and the Commission a series of deferrals and easements in the application of these regulations to Irish transport, particularly domestic transport. I regret that I see no realistic prospect of obtaining further easements, whether in terms of deferred deadlines or modification of the general requirements of the regulations.
Has the Minister sought another deferral for one year in this instance?
Deferrals have been sought and we have now reached the point where these regulations must by put into effect. Further argument on the point will not have any effect.
I am aware that deferrals were sought in recent years but has the Minister sought a deferral for a further year?
I am satisfied from the evidence in my Department that there is no possibility of getting further deferrals and I have not sought them.
Has the Minister, or the Department, assessed the serious implications, competitive and cost-wise, for the Irish transport industry, for exporters from the more remote parts of the country, the extra costs that will be imposed on goods for exporters and the serious implications for the whole of the transport haulage industry in this country? Has any serious assessment been carried out and have any meetings taken place with the trade union movement in an effort to allay the fears of problems which will arise very shortly?
That would be a matter for another Department.
Would the Minister not agree that the introduction of the tachograph at this time is flying in the face of all the representations being made to him by various interested parties? Would he agree as well that our situation is very different from that obtaining in Europe, that because of that we have a special case, and that the Minister should at least seek a further 12 months deferral before introducing this regulation?
That is precisely the basis on which we got various easements in this area. I am afraid we have now reached the point at which no further easements will be allowed us.
Do I take it from what the Minister has said that, first of all, he sought no deferral for the coming year, that the Government, and his Department especially, have not carried out any assessment of the serious implications, and that it is flying in the face of all the representations made to him that the problem has not been sorted out and obviously he has not even recruited the staff to implement this tachograph regulation?
Did I understand the Minister to say that his Department did not foresee any problems arising for hauliers, especially those operating on a small-time basis as a result of the introduction of the tachograph regulation?
It will put them out of business.
This is one of the directives we accepted when we joined the EEC that would have to be applied to us as a full member. We have received easements. We have now come to the end of the road and must accept the present position, that no further easement will be allowed us in this area.
It is obvious that the Minister did not even try for a deferral.