Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)

The Deputy may be aware that a working group was set up between officials of my Department, the Irish Road Haulage Association, IRHA, and some Members. The working group is discussing several issues of concern to the haulage industry. The Deputy will understand that I cannot pre-empt the outcome of these discussions, which are ongoing. A fuel rebate system, as sought by the IRHA, could not under EU law be restricted to Irish licensed hauliers but would have to be extended to all vehicles intended exclusively for the carriage of goods by road with a maximum permissible gross laden weight of not less than 7.5 tonnes. In addition, the rebate would have to include the carriage of passengers by a motor vehicle of category M2 or category M3 as defined in Council Directive 70/156/EEC.

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