Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank you for your indulgence, Chairman. The reason I wish to attend the meeting is that I have a particular interest in all of these matters because of the constituency I represent. Some of the changes that have been made already, such as the 4.65 m restriction in height will affect the farming industry in my county to a great extent because much fodder is brought in and the fact that the height of a trailer of bales must be reduced will increase the cost of transport. In terms of forestry, I have specific questions about Directive 96/53/EC. I refer to counties such as Kerry and Donegal and other places where, for example, timber must be transported from awkward places. Trailers are left outside and filled first and one has to go back and forth in order to make up a load. The impression I get in terms of what is emerging from Europe in regard to transport is that the shoe that fits the foot of Europe does not necessarily fit our foot. I am most concerned about the issue.

A number of years ago, in their infinite wisdom, politicians decided to do away with our rural rail network. That was a bad decision to make at the time and we are paying the price for it ever since. It is only the good work of the Irish Road Haulage Association and its members that has made up for it. I am concerned about the effect of lobbying by people around Europe who have an excellent rail network. Everyone has to bat for their own corner. In County Kerry every animal must be loaded onto a lorry in order to be transported. The Chairman referred to what will happen at borders. We could not tolerate a situation where animals would have to be unloaded and loaded again at borders. I am concerned about the implications of what is being discussed at present. I am not a member of the committee but I wish to express my strong concern and to offer my assistance to the Irish Road Haulage Association because it does invaluable work in ensuring that everything keeps moving around the country. It is important that the association is vibrant, hard working and on top of its game because it is required more than ever before. Leadership by the association is also required more than ever before to ensure that we will not be forgotten by decisions taken in Europe that would have a detrimental effect on the way we carry on our business, be it farming or retail. We must be vigilant about what is going on because the height restriction of 4.65 m will have a detrimental effect on my constituency.