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

I welcome the witnesses and thank them for their contribution. I listened to the opening statements in my office. I am interested in the proposal in the legislation that in effect employers would be liable for their drivers at all times. Hauliers who engage employees are responsible for their drivers but to put a further onus of responsibility on them is neither practical nor sensible and will in effect put people out of business.

We commend the RSA on its work in the past number of years. We are all interested in road safety. There is nobody more responsible for trucks or buses than the man who owns them, but at the end of the day there are activities that are a money making racket. The representatives from the Irish Road Haulage Association will know exactly what I am talking about. Let me give some examples, the testing of trailers. When is a test not a test? If a trailer is tested today, and passes, the result should last for 12 months. If a bus is tested and passes the test today, why can an inspector retest that bus next week? That does not make sense. I am not blaming An Garda Síochána because the role of the Garda Síochána is to implement the legislation and I respect it. If those who are formulating legislation were asked to tip the cab of a truck, it might take them four or five days to figure it out. We have to be respectful when dealing with people, but at the same time we must ensure that we do not put people out of business. I know An Garda Síochána does not want to put people out of business. I also know that the Road Haulage Association does not want their people to go out of business.

We are not all living in an ideal world.