Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 29:

In page 73, after line 35, to insert the following:"Ministerial orders in relation to motor vehicle insurance and licenses

99.The Minister may, with the consent of the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, make such order or orders as he or she considers necessary to continue in being or carry out any reciprocal or other arrangements in relation to motor vehicle insurance and licences to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle of a specified category which were in operation between the State and the United Kingdom immediately before the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from membership of the European Union.".

This amendment proposes to insert a new section into the Bill. At a briefing in the audiovisual room last week, a representative of Border Communities Against Brexit spoke about the immediate impact that a green card would have, including the differential that would result if reciprocal arrangements were not put in place in respect of issues like insurance. The Tánaiste touched on this the last time he appeared before the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. The representative of Border Communities Against Brexit spoke about the immediate impact that a green card would have on a range of businesses, not least the haulage business. He referred to a haulier with a fleet of 80 lorries, all of which will need an individual green card at a cost of between €25 and €50 per card. He said that his colleagues in the haulage business are angry that this situation has come about. He asked what would happen to his business if he refused to purchase the necessary paperwork, or to comply with filling it in. He wondered whether his goods would be impounded in such circumstances. This creates a significant degree of uncertainty for him and his business. During a meeting with representatives of O'Neill's Sportswear in Belfast earlier this week, I was informed that when one of the company's lorries is bringing gear to Dublin from its plant in Strabane, it has to cross the Border 18 times before it reaches Dublin. That is the reality of the madness we are facing. I know the Tánaiste is all too well aware of it. Amendment No. 29 is concise and clear in what it tries to do. Rather than prolonging the agony for Members, I will let the amendment speak for itself.