Mr. Ger Hyland:

A driver's wages at present really are a Dutch auction. When companies advertise for a driver, a few people come. They hold an interview, select the candidate and offer the job. The drivers go back to the people they are working for to hand in their notice. A few days later, those companies will come back and make any kind of offer to keep the drivers because they know if the drivers go out the gate, the companies will not be able to replace them. Even with drivers coming from South Africa, it is taking up to 12 months to get a driver set up to come here. When they are due to come, they do not show up and the money we have invested in bringing them to Ireland is gone. We are looking at €3,000 or €4,000 per head.