Brian Walsh (Galway West, Fine Gael)

I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this debate. I agree entirely with Deputies Durkan and Barry regarding speculation on oil prices. The issue is relevant to the Bill but governments need to consider it. At the outset of the financial crisis governments decided it was appropriate to intervene in contracts for difference when speculators bet on share prices in financial institutions.

The Bill proposes to reform the regulation of freight and passenger transport in accordance with EU regulations due to come into effect next month. In doing so, it may provide an opportunity for haulage operators in Ireland to move more freely in our European neighbours' markets. As previous speakers noted, it involves little by way of legislative or policy change, but it transposes existing regulations into primary legislation in order to ensure uniformity with our European partners. The introduction of legislation to regulate or licence transport businesses will ultimately improve road safety and the Bill is to be welcomed in that regard. The Minister has already brought two Road Traffic Bills before the House during the short period he has been in office.

While the practical effects of the Bill may be minimal, the strengthening of regulations on road passenger transport is welcome. This is particularly important in the case of school transport. Many of us entrust our children's safety to bus operators on a daily basis and it is welcome that safeguards in this area will be brought into line with European guidelines. The transposition into primary legislation of the requirement for such operators to be licensed and the fact that operating without a licence will be an offence under the law are positive developments.

Significantly, the Bill strengthens the existing requirement that applicants for licences be of good repute and character. Any history of serious or violent offences will be taken into account when decisions are being made in the issuance of licences. The Bill also extends the number and nature of positions within a road haulage or passenger transport operation to which this provision will apply to include directors, business partners and drivers.

The Bill provides for a national register of licence operators to be published on the Minister's website or, rather, the website of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.

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