Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will conclude with two brief points.

On an alternative to the landbridge route, the Minister's officials received assurances. Did he receive the same assurances when he met his counterpart last week? Has he engaged with the European Commission on the possibility of our qualifying for Trans-European Transport Network, TEN-T, funding to upgrade ports, including Rosslare and Waterford? Has he engaged with the shipping companies on the possibility of increasing their connectivity to continental Europe?

We have raised on a number of occasions at this committee the issue of the 42 tonne derogation. The Government's failure to sign the derogation this year has put haulage companies at a disadvantage with some of their counterparts in the United Kingdom and on mainland Europe. The United Kingdom is considering a 46 tonne derogation, with a six axle base, which would put Irish haulage companies at even more of a disadvantage. In the light of Brexit, is that something the Minister would be willing to review?