Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 86: To ask the Minister for Transport his proposals to increase the use of rail freight and the role the proposed freight forum will have; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5994/09]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 87: To ask the Minister for Transport when he will establish the industry and stakeholder forum for the development of freight that was proposed in the new smarter transport document; the persons he will appoint to this forum; the remit of the forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5824/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 87 together.

I propose to establish a forum on the movement of goods, as set out in the Smarter Travel policy paper, later this year. My Department is currently undertaking preparatory work on the membership, tasks and timescales for the forum. The forum will address both economic competitiveness and environmental sustainability matters associated with the movement of goods by air, sea, rail and road.

The realistic potential for rail freight and its role within an integrated freight transport strategy will be among the matters explored by the forum.

Iarnród Éireann continues to pursue a policy of growing its rail freight business where opportunities present and of returning the rail freight business to profitability. In that context, Iarnród Éireann has made progress in recent years in growing the rail freight business in areas where it holds a competitive advantage over road haulage, e.g. large volumes or trainloads over longer distances.

Rail freight is fully liberalised since 1st January, 2007, and while no applications have been made for entry to the market to date, any expressions of interest would be welcomed.