Vol. 526 No. 6
145 Mr. O'Flynn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether any attempt to introduce the brit disc tax proposed by the British Chancellor of the Exchequer on trucks crossing the Northern Ireland Border would be a fundamental breach of the Good Friday Agreement as well as impeding commercial transport between certain parts of the State. [27247/00]
My colleague the Minister for Public Enterprise is fully aware of the background to this matter. I understand this suggestion by the British Chan cellor is still at an early stage of conception and that no detailed proposal has yet been brought forward by the British Government. The development of this proposal will continue to be closely monitored by the Minister for Public Enterprise.
In so far as the Northern Ireland dimension is concerned, I will ensure that the North-South implications of any such formal proposal are closely evaluated. Given the importance which the Administrations in Dublin, London and Belfast attach to the development of North-South trade and business activity, it is clearly in our collective interest to ensure that the formulation of transport policies enhances cross-Border commercial activity on the island.
