Tom Morrissey (Progressive Democrats)

Much misinformation has been put into the public arena. For example, comments to the effect that there are 9,000 trucks travelling in both directions on the quays were made in that interview. We are speaking about how many trucks will be accommodated in the tunnel and taken off our streets but the most senior people involved do not know how many trucks there are, giving a figure of 18,000, which is twice as many as is the case. Most bizarrely, the engineer went on to say the reason we have 5.3 m. bridges on our motorways is not to accommodate trucks but road surfacing over the years. Have Members ever heard anything so outlandish?

It was said that these trucks are not allowed anywhere in Europe except Spain and the United Kingdom. I recently visited Helsinki, where a new port is being built in Vuosaari. A tunnel from that port will transport all of the newsprint and paper products used in this country, possibly even the paper from which I am reading. This tunnel has an operational height of 5 m. However, senior politicians and engineers here say these trucks are not allowed anywhere.

It is a numbers game, namely, how many trucks there are, but this should not be the case. The goods in those trucks generate thousands of jobs in this economy, many of which are in manufacturing. We have a declining manufacturing base due to our competitiveness and peripherality. The argument is bogus if it is based on numbers of trucks because it is quality not quantity that counts in this instance. I do not mind whether the figure is 180 or 280 trucks. The real point is what is in those trucks, and bears little relation to our trumpeted manufacturing ability, peripherality and competitiveness.

In respect of the potential limitations, under what section of the Road Traffic Act 2004 or other legislation can a Minister act unilaterally without consulting our EU partners? There is no maximum height restriction on trucks in this country. The trucks we are discussing have been licensed by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government for approximately 15 years. Senior people involved say the trucks have only been here since 2000 and they do not want them any more but this is not the case. Much misinformation has been put into the public arena, which is why I wish to set out these few facts. I also wish to move the debate on by determining which legislation allows the Minister to act unilaterally.

I apologise for submitting this as an Adjournment matter. I know that the Minister for Transport and the Minister of State have attended often but we do not have enough wide-ranging debates to cover all of these points. I await the Minister of State's reply.