Ms Verona Murphy:

We do not know on what basis it was introduced because the report that was collated in the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport came, I believe, from the Road Safety Authority, RSA. We were not given sight of it. We have asked for it numerous times but have not received it. If the taxpayer is paying for reports, they should be public knowledge.

All we can say is that it takes 8% of our income. The alternative combination, however, still stands. A driver can carry 42 tonnes on a three-axle tractor unit and a two-axle trailer but not on a two-axle tractor unit and triaxle trailer, which would be the predominant vehicle on Irish roads. Across Europe that five-axle combination can carry 44 tonnes. The roads in France are not much different from the roads in Ireland apart from there being four times more kilometres there.