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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 30 Jan 2002

Vol. 547 No. 1

Written Answers. - Transport Managers.

Proinsias De Rossa

Ceist:

210 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the reason a person (details supplied) is not eligible for the position of transport manager after passing the necessary examinations; her views on whether the firm in question should receive a refund of the examination expenses incurred for this person; if she deems this person ineligible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1870/02]

Under EU Council Directive 96/26/EC, a person nominated to act as a transport manager for a road haulage operator or a road passenger operator must prove he or she is eligible to do so having qualified by examination for a certificate of professional competence, CPC, from the Chartered Institute of Transport in Ireland. The transport manager should also be involved in the day-to-day management of the operation.

In 1999, a review of the road haulage industry by Indecon-Pricewaterhousecoopers consultants recommended that the licensing regime in respect of the designation of transport managers should be strictly applied. The resulting policy introduced by my Department in consultation with the Irish Road Haulage Association and IBEC in November 1999 requires that the transport manager be employed by the licence holder on a full time basis to ensure continuous and effective management of the business. This full time employment rule applies unless the transport manager is a partner or a director in the business or is the spouse or partner of the licence holder. This policy is intended to ensure that haulage businesses are effectively managed on an ongoing basis to provide a professional service to customers and the economy as a whole.

The firm in question has approached my Department on this matter and enquiries are being made with the Chartered Institute of Transport in Ireland.

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