Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Baineann an cheist atá á ardú agam inniu leis an táille de £10 in aghaidh an lae, nó £1,000 sa bhliain, atá le gearradh ar thrucailí a bheidh ag taisteal ar bhóithre Tuaisceart na hÉireann. This charge, which is being proposed on foot of British legislation, will apply to trucks that are registered outside England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland when they travel on all British roads, including roads in the North of Ireland. It will mean that a £10 daily fee, or a £1,000 annual fee, will apply to Irish trucks when they travel on roads in the North. This will have a devastating effect on many Irish haulage companies that use HGVs over a certain tonnage. It will have a substantial impact on trucks in the Border counties, including the Minister of State's county of Louth. It will have a particularly significant effect on County Donegal, given the nature of the geography of the north west. Trucks that travel between Donegal and Dublin will be severely penalised as a result of this additional charge.

It does not make sense. It will affect businesses and jobs and it will increase the cost of goods moving in and out of areas.

I wish to raise the matter with the Minister today. An urgent meeting is required between the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and his British counterpart. I understand that a meeting may have taken place today. Perhaps the Minister of State can enlighten the House on whether the issue was on the agenda of that meeting. Has it been discussed? What attempts are being made by the Irish Government to deal with the issue? Has an amnesty been sought for trucks from the Twenty-six Counties when they travel into the North?

The new charge does not make sense. We must protect the haulage business and accompanying jobs. Not only that, the cost of consumer goods will also be affected. The Government is aware of the situation as the issue has been raised previously. I hope it is making progress and will have the matter dealt with as quickly as possible.