Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

There are a number of exceptions. For example, there are exemptions if one is operating on one's own account. Moreover, there are exemptions for a wide range of things, encompassing everything from mail to corpses to milk and various other items. However, it would not be appropriate to have a blanket exemption for agricultural vehicles. It would be really unfair to the haulage industry to insist that it must jump through all these hoops, namely, to have a licence, be of good repute, be established in the State and have a good financial standing but then tell someone who uses a tractor or other agricultural vehicle that none of these standards apply.

I will give the matter some consideration. The RSA already has done some work in this regard. For example, European regulations allow exemptions for vehicles that travel at less than 40 km/h. Some work is being done by the RSA on allowing an exemption for such vehicles if they are not going to use the motorway. While someone operating within his or her own immediate area and who is not going onto the motorway, etc., could have an exemption, there are potential problems and potential downsides in this regard. One obvious downside is that most modern agricultural vehicles now can travel at speeds greater than 40 km/h.