Haulage Industry

Thursday, 3 June 2021

Ceisteanna (245)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

245. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 76 of 19 May 2021, if his attention has been drawn to the speech by the Minister for Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (details supplied) in which he stated arrangements would be made to ensure recognition of professional qualifications between Ireland and Britain; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the failure to do same for the qualification of transport manager is causing difficulties for the transport and haulage sector; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the matter is causing residency issues for workers who can no longer live in Northern Ireland and work as a transport manager here; and if he will pursue a derogation specific to this region and for this qualification given the unique circumstances on the island of Ireland. [30396/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Transport

As outlined in the reply to the Deputy’s earlier Parliamentary Question No. 76 of 19 May 2021, 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of Professional Competence (TM CPC) issued by a competent authority in the UK, including Northern Ireland, is no longer valid in the EU. The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement does not include provision for mutual recognition of TM CPC. It should be noted that the TM CPC qualification affords access to the wider single market.

As previously indicated, persons wishing to act as Transport Manager for a road transport operator established in an EU Member State, including in Ireland, must be resident in the EU in line with Regulation EC No 1071/2009. Residence in the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland, does not satisfy this requirement. Ireland does not have discretion to derogate from such legislative provisions.