Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 178: To ask the Minister for Transport his views regarding the implications of Regulations EEC 3820/85, Article 6(I) for the coach tourism industry which is a vital component of the national tourism product here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5714/07]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 250: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has considered the implications of the new working time directive for the tourism coach hire business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5710/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 178 and 250 together.

EU Directive No. 2002/15 is concerned with the organisation of working time of persons performing mobile road transport activities and supplements the existing drivers' hours legislation as provided for in EU Regulation 3820/85 — soon to be replaced by a new Regulation No. 561/2006 on the harmonization of certain social legislation relating to road transport. The provisions of the drivers' hours regulations takes precedence over the Working Time Directive in relation to driving activities.

Regulation No. 561/2006 applies to all EU Member States and comes into force from 11th April 2007 with the exception of certain provisions that came into effect from 1 May 2006. The overall objective of the new legislation is to improve working conditions for drivers and road safety. These new rules will replace the existing drivers' hours rules which have not been updated since 1985. As a consequence of the new Regulation, all professional drivers throughout the Community will be subject to the same rules in relation to driving times, breaks and rest periods.

While I appreciate that the new EU legislation will have implications for the coach tourism industry, the safety of passengers and other road users is paramount and the coach industry must play its part in relation to safety on our roads. The coach sector has over 1 year to reorganise their work practices in order to comply with the new rules and minimise the impact on their operations.