Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)

I just want to come in on the HGV levy. I will quickly read a statement by then Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy Chambers.

The UK HGV road user levy was introduced in 2014, affecting all UK roads including in Northern Ireland. Prior to its introduction, the Irish Government engaged with UK authorities seeking to have Northern Ireland exempted from the charge because of the potential impact on cross-Border trade. The UK authorities ultimately decided to maintain the levy with only very minor exceptions for Northern Ireland.

An official at the Department of the environment in the North of Ireland stated that the levy was a tax and, therefore, an accepted measure under the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and a matter solely for the Westminster Parliament. People may be misinformed about this matter. Have the witnesses had any specific engagement with British officials on this issue or are they aware of the Irish Government having such engagement?