Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 May 2021
76. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Transport the actions being taken by his Department to facilitate Northern Irish transport managers working as transport managers for Irish haulage businesses to continue in their position (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26735/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs outlined by the European Commission (see the notification available at https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/brexit_files/info_site/road_transport_en.pdf), following the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December 2020 a Transport Manager Certificate of Professional Competence (TM CPC) issued by a competent authority in the UK, including Northern Ireland, is no longer valid in the EU. This means that a Transport Manager holding a UK-issued Transport Manager Certificate of Professional Competence can no longer act as the Transport Manager for an EU-based road transport operator.
Clarification was received in November 2020 from the European Commission that holders of a UK TM CPC could request a corresponding certificate from the competent authority in the Member State where they live or where the road transport operator employing them is established, as long as the request was submitted before the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December 2020. The Department wrote to all UK (including Northern Ireland) TM CPC holders working as Transport Managers for Irish road transport operators to inform them of this position, encouraging them to apply for a corresponding Irish (EU) certificate.
As the deadline has now passed for applying for a corresponding Irish TM CPC, any persons who wish to act as Transport Manager for an Irish/EU operator must obtain a TM CPC issued by an EU Member State. Obtaining an Irish TM CPC requires passing the examination administered by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) on behalf of the Department. Candidates who already hold a UK-issued TM CPC will not be required to undertake the training course of 100 hours that is normally mandatory before taking the examination. The next dates for the CILT TM CPC examination are 30 June and 24 November and candidates can register online with CILT for the examination (contact info@cilt.ie).
In order to act as Transport Manager for a road transport operator established in an EU Member State including in Ireland, persons are required not only to have an EU-issued TM CPC but also must be resident in the EU, in line with Regulation EC No 1071/2009. Accordingly, it is no longer permitted for those resident in Northern Ireland or anywhere else in the United Kingdom to act as Transport Manager in Ireland.
