Mr. Eoin Gavin:

I thank the Deputies for their comments. Deputy Healy-Rae asked about the impact on his constituency. It would mean more truck movements, the cost of tonnes per kilometre would increase and fewer tonnes would be going on each vehicle, whether it be the timber or agriculture industry.

To respond to Deputy Naughten's comments, in terms of the weanling trade out of the west to France and Spain, all those vehicles are extra long and extra high. If this one shoe fits all European proposal is brought forward, it will have a detrimental effect on our live export trade. It would mean that at the first stop, the border of Rosslare Port, animals would have to be unloaded and put onto the lower trucks, which is crazy.

People need to think outside the box on this issue. We are very dependent on road transport here. Therefore, we must do what is best for road transport. Some of the other countries in Europe are not as dependent on road transport. Even though 80% of goods move across Europe on trucks, 20% move across Europe using alternative modes. The systems in Europe should complement each other. The train works with the truck, the canal works with the train and with the truck but that is not referred to in this report. What is happening is that one strong lobby group is putting its foot down on stopping innovation and the greening of the transport sector in general. It has implications for everybody from County Kerry to the north of Finland. What it means is more trucks on the road and more fumes. There will be a driver shortage in 2020. Our average truck driver age is 50, therefore, we must try to combat this measure. The goods will still have to move. Consumerism is increasing. A common sense approach must be taken on this, which will affect many different areas.