Deirdre Clune (Fine Gael)

I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute on this Bill. We will have debate next year on a road transport Bill, but none the less this is important legislation to ensure the directive is in place by 4 December. I do not know where the fault lies with regard to bringing it forward so late, but I am sure the Seanad and committees can build on the work we are doing now on dealing with EU regulations and directives. This work will give an opportunity to both Houses to look at what is coming down the tracks, a facility we have not had previously. Until now, many directives have been nodded into place and the first we heard of them - perhaps we should have informed ourselves - was when they were presented as legislation, often in an emergency situation.

This legislation is important because we have so many road hauliers and transport operators. Not alone do they operate here, they also interact internationally and it is important their licences to operate are not impeded. Therefore, we must ensure the legislation is enacted speedily and is not stopped in its tracks. Our exports are very important. Figures from the Irish Exporters Association show exports were valued at €161 billion last year and these figures are increasing year on year. However, when we look at internal figures on the transport of goods and services, they have fallen on an all-island basis. The figures we have from the CSO show that last year there was a decrease of 50% and that overall figures since 2000 are down 34%. This is a concern.

It is important we support road hauliers and the transport sector, particularly when we have invested so much in our road network. Road haulage also provides a flexibility we do not get with rail transport operators. Road hauliers are more flexible and operate at all times, including at weekends and throughout the night as anybody who travels our roads at night sees. Hauliers have reacted speedily to changes in the economy and new developments in the road network. For example, we have seen large distribution centres established throughout the country specifically to supply supermarkets and retailers, and transport hauliers are a vital cog in this. I know we could debate these distribution centres as they affect other issues. None the less, road hauliers have been proactive in reacting to change and they provide a flexible and reliable service. I commend them on how they carry out their business.

This legislation should be welcomed, particularly as it will establish the good reputation of operators. This is important. Anybody who operates in the haulage business must welcome this as it will ensure that those who operate illegally and with unlicensed vehicles will be disciplined. Illegal operators can be fined and theses fines are now much higher than previously, up to €500,000 or three years in prison. This should act as a deterrent and provide comfort to those who have been operating legally within the system. In every operation there are always those who try to undermine it, cut corners and fail to comply with legislation. Therefore, it is good that through this legislation those of good reputation will have some standing. The Bill provides that the public can access the register of legal hauliers on the Internet. Up to now access to this register was restricted and only people who took the time to visit the Minister's office could view it. Now it will be accessible at all times on the Internet.

We must remember that this legislation is not all about road transport. It is also about the transport of passengers, which is a serious and onerous responsibility. We must ensure we have proper legislation, proper controls and a proper licensing system in place for such operators which may access the Continent and drive internationally. We must ensure we have a seamless system of standards. Therefore, this legislation and the directive to be put in place are very important.

We received correspondence recently from the Irish Road Haulage Association about washed diesel. It has been brought to my attention on a number of occasions and it has been raised at various meetings we have attended. The Irish Road Haulage Association recently described it as being at epidemic levels. Washed diesel now accounts for almost 12% of the road diesel market with an estimated loss of €155 million per annum to the Irish economy. The solution put forward is for a one-colour diesel model to be implemented. If combined with a fuel rebate system, it would allow legitimate users of marked diesel claim a rebate based on usage. Something must be done about it. We hear about it anecdotally and occasionally we hear of raids by customs officers. Given that it is such a loss to the economy at a time when increases in excise duties have been mooted, it should be tackled. Reasonable proposals have been put forward and they should be considered.

I refer to road tolls and the effect they will have on transport and trade. We discussed this before and, if I may be parochial, I am particularly concerned about the Lee tunnel in Cork which has been in place for quite a number of years. It has not been tolled but I would be interested if the Minister has any information on the contribution EU funds made to the tunnel. I am not sure if it was built using cohesion funding but it was built with funding from the EU taxpayer, including our own taxpayers' money. Can the National Roads Authority introduce a toll at this stage, in particular since the tunnel is used for economic activity in the city, both north and south? It is not for people bypassing the city. Tolls have implications for road transport costs. From a competitive point of view, tolls increase costs for exports or products being sent abroad.