Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 246: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will ensure that the revised legislation dealing with driver working hours does not disadvantage Irish tour operators and make them uncompetitive relative to those crossing international borders. [21543/09]

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 247: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will respond positively to the request from Irish tour operators at the next Council of Ministers meeting to promote the reinstatement of the 12-day driver working rule for coach tours as proposed for international coach tours under the revised EU legislation. [21544/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 246 and 247 together.

The European Parliament proposed in 2008 that current EU rules on drivers hours and rest periods be amended to allow drivers engaged on cross border tours to drive 12 consecutive days, with out a break, commonly known as the '12-day rule'.

The proposal was framed as an amendment to the draft Regulation on common rules for access to the international market for coach and bus services. This Regulation is currently being finalised with a view to formal adoption at a Council of Ministers later this year.

The majority of Member States and the European Commission, including Ireland, support this proposal.