Austin Deasy
Ceist:24 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the plans, if any, he has to liberalise road transport for both goods and passenger services. [8101/96]
Written Answers. - Road Transport Liberalisation.
Quantitative restrictions on the number of road freight operator licences were removed with the enactment of the Road Transport Act, 1986. The present position is that persons or firms who satisfy qualitative criteria in relation to financial standing, good repute and professional competance can qualify for a national or international road freight carrier's licence. Access to the profession of road passenger transport operator is achieved by satisfying similar qualitative criteria.
Under EU Council-Regulation 881/92, access to the market in international haulage within the European Union is available to Irish operators in possession of an international road freight carrier's licence. Cabotage, that is the freedom for Irish operators to pick up and drop freight for hire or reward with another member state, is being progressively liberalised pursuant to EU Council Regulation 3118/93. Full liberalisation of freight cabotage is scheduled for 1 July 1998.
The provisions of passenger road transport services, apart from services provided by Bus Éireann and Bus Átha Cliath, is governed by the Road Transport Act, 1932. There are a number of difficulties associated with the implementation of this legislation and there is a general consensus that it is in need of updating.
A comprehensive review is under way and consultations with all major interests in the passenger road transport sector, which began last year, is almost complete. It would be inappropriate for me to pre-empt the outcome of this process by speculating on possible proposals for the reform of the sector which may emerge.
At present passenger cabotage, in accordance with EU Council Regulation 2454/92, is permitted for all services except ordinary scheduled services. The Commission has recently tabled its proposals for the future liberalisation of services including inter-city services. I am giving the most careful consideration to the possible impact of the Commission's proposals on the overall Irish road passenger market.