Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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262. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the outcome of discussions he has had with his British counterpart relating to legislation in the British Parliament regarding the certification of hauliers' licences and vehicles and its implications for the haulage industry here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7997/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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“The Haulage Permits and Trailer Registration Bill” is designed to put in place a system of UK international road transport permits for UK operators that will then provide the option of mutual recognition between EU road transport permits (Community Licences) and UK road transport permits and facilitate continued liberalised access for commercial haulage – such a provision will be vital if the final EU/UK deal requires a permit system,which will not be clear until negotiations have reached final agreement.

The Bill also provides for the establishment of a trailer registration scheme in line with the 1968 Vienna Convention, to ensure that UK operators driving on the continent can comply with the requirements of those EU countries which require the registration of all trailers travelling on their roads. Ireland already registers trailers, so this is not an issue for us.

I welcome the Bill as a constructive contingency measure in preparation for Brexit. My Department has asked for time to examine it in detail before reverting to the UK Department for Transport with any observations or questions.

The focus of the Government in Brexit negotiations is to protect Ireland’s interests and to advance our priorities. In the context of the haulage sector it is vital to minimise the impact of Brexit by avoiding any new regulatory burden for hauliers travelling to or transiting the UK. I can assure you that I and other Government Ministers will continue to work with our EU counterparts, both in EU capitals and within the EU institutions, to protect the interests of the Irish haulage sector.