Vol. 433 No. 3
9 Mr. Noonan (Limerick East) asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the implications for Irish road hauliers arising from the decision by the EC Council of Transport Ministers to totally de-regulate the European Community's road haulage market by 1998; the level of representation Ireland had at the meeting; and the position Ireland took on the proposal.
The Council of Ministers, at their meeting which I attended on the 19 June 1993, agreed a gradual phasing out of restrictions on road freight cabotage, leading to complete liberation by 1 July 1998. This decision means that from that date Irish international road transport operators may carry out road haulage operations domestically within the territory of other EC member states.
Ireland has always supported liberalisation of road haulage in the EC in furtherance of the free market principle. The very limited cabotage regime available under existing EC regulation has been availed of by a small core of Irish international hauliers interested in expanding their operations by undertaking internal work in other EC member states. The further liberalisation of road cabotage is therefore seen as providing opportunities for our haulage industry and should provide for an expansion in the number of our hauliers operating abroad.
(Limerick East): Is the Minister aware that one lorry in every three operating across international boundaries in the EC at present returns home empty? Has the Minister an equivalent figure for Ireland.
I am aware that many empty vehicles travel across the Community having disposed of their cargo. Ireland, being on the periphery of the Community, suffers from that position more than others. I do not have the exact ratio but I will certainly obtain that information for the Deputy if he so wishes.
(Limerick East): Now that the decision has been taken for full liberalisation in five year's time, what plans has the Minister's Department put in place to ensure that the Irish road haulage industry will obtain the full and complete benefit of the new regime?
It is important for the Department and the Government to ensure that whatever regime comes into operation is favourable to Ireland. This was agreed at a 12 hour meeting on 19 June. We fought a major case and secured a very positive deal which has been welcomed across the board by the haulage industry. We will have further negotiations with the Irish Road Haulage Association and other interests to ensure that any benefits can be maximised in favour of Ireland, the haulage industry and job creation. Every co-operation will be given to ensure a positive environment for international road haulage from an Irish point of view.
(Limerick East): At the same meeting a related decision was taken that lorries would be charged for the use of EC motorways. To what degree will that impact on the cost base of the road haulage business in Ireland?
This matter has been promoted by Germany for a number of years and has been discussed throughout the Community over the past three years at various meetings of COREPER, in the Commission and at meetings of the Council of Ministers. Initially, the proposal was a 4,000 ECU per annum charge for all hauliers crossing from one country to another. As a result of the meeting of 19 June, during which Ireland forced a total of four different votes, the final proposal put forward by us was the one agreed by the Council. This ensured that the figure was reduced to 1,250 ECU per annum. We included a pro rata daily, weekly and monthly rate and Ireland obtained a derogation on this charge until 1997. We persuaded five countries to agree to a co-operative regional vignette which means that Irish hauliers will be required to pay only a single charge in those five countries during each year. This is very satisfactory from an Irish point of view.
(Limerick East): Well done, Minister.
