Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

This is going to take intervention at a high level. The Tánaiste told me to go to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. We have had two Ministers in that Department since 2011, neither of whom has cracked this cartel. These are the facts. It has not been done. No one is making the move. There are people who it appears cannot be challenged. What is left to the people at the moment? Hynes Quinn is a company in Leitrim that is providing 20 jobs and its only option now is to challenge this in court. As politicians we should be ashamed of ourselves. The EU talks about open competition for everyone. For a small SME to have to go to court to vindicate its entitlements is unacceptable.

I am not talking about SOLAS or the Department of Education and Skills. I know what they do and it is very good. I am referring specifically to the fact that for four years, two Ministers have closed their eyes. The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport with the CILT and the quango allow a certain number of people to give a course. I am referring to people giving a course, not sitting down to get one. This little cartel is going on while other suppliers are fit to give this course around the country at nearly half the price. That would be a very good thing for the consumer and for ordinary people who need a licence to set up in the haulage industry. It is called a "haulage licence". They could get it at nearly half the price. Sadly, no one has done anything. Be it the Ombudsman or the consumer affairs commission, they do not seem to have clout. I am asking that someone takes this on at a high level to get it sorted. Nobody in the country should be forbidden from providing something that he or she is qualified to provide. He or she should at least be given the opportunity to get out there and be in competition. I ask the Minister to break this cartel. It must stop for the betterment of the haulage industry.

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