Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

My question to the Minister relates to the road haulage system situation. The road haulage industry in Ireland is in a perilous situation. Road tax for the road haulage industry is five times more expensive here than it is in Northern Ireland and the introduction of the new levy of €10 per day in Northern Ireland and the UK has had a terrible impact. The Minister's Department is well aware of this fact. The levy has been introduced for more than a year yet nothing has been done to help this industry. As a result, hauliers and businesspeople are transferring their operations to the UK and Northern Ireland, and who would blame them? They are at the pin of their collars trying to survive, maintain jobs and provide a high-quality service. They cannot do this when we have an unfair and unlevel playing field.

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