Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 63: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will consider either the provision of a regulator for the rail freight sector or the seeking of tenders for an operator from the private sector to operate the service for a number of years. [29700/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The European Communities (Access to Railway Infrastructure) (Amendment) Regulations, 2005 (S.I. 780 of 2005), transposes Directive 2004/51/EC on the development of the Community's Railways. In line with developments across the EU, these Regulations allow for the opening of the freight market to competition from 1 January 2006, in the case of international freight, and from 1 January 2007 for domestic freight operations. The rail freight industry across the EU is aware of these developments.

I have said on a number of occasions that I welcome the development of a liberalised rail freight market and I am open to considering proposals from interested parties on any innovative or new approaches to rail freight which offer value for money, where a real and tangible return on Exchequer investment can be demonstrated. However, no formal applications have been received in my Department for a railway undertaking licence or for track access.

I have no proposals for the provision of an independent rail regulator for the rail sector.