Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 72: To ask the Minister for Transport his assessment of the rejection, by the European Parliament in June 2010, of the EU commission proposals to amend EU Directive 200215/BC concerning the working time of truck drivers; if he plans to apply the directive to self-employed drivers; his plans to amend Statutory Instrument 2/2005 in accordance with the EU decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2240/11]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The recent decision by the European Parliament to reject the jointly agreed position of the European Commission and Member States concerning the application of the Working Time Directive to self-employed mobile transport workers required all Member States to re-assess the legislative framework governing working time in this area. In Ireland's case, a draft Statutory Instrument recasting S.I. 2 of 2005 that will implement this decision has been drawn up in conjunction with the Road Safety Authority. The Department is currently consulting with the European Commission regarding practical enforcement issues arising across Member States, with a view to ensuring that Ireland's legislation will reflect best practice across the EU. Following the outcome of that consultation with the Commission, I will move quickly to legislate in this area.