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14th April 2005, Page 59
14th April 2005
Page 59
Page 59, 14th April 2005 — Members only
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The members-only session began with outgoing president Eamonn Morrissey announcing that a one-stop shop for 0-licence applications will be operating at the DoT from September. This replaces the need to get a licence from the DoT and the discs from the garda.

The Western Branch called on the government to ban the use of agricultural tractors for haulage on public roads. A delegate reported that a dump truck carrying 26 tonnes had been stopped in his area during the March blitz on HGVs. This is a threat to health and safety," he told delegates.

Incoming president Vincent Caulfield read out the letter sent by the DoT to councils on the subject of agricultural vehicles and off-road dumpers. It said they must be satisfied with a vehicle's roadworthiness and suitability for the job because the brakes may not be compatible with the trailer.

However, tipperman Eoin Gavin from County Clare was not impressed. "I feel the garda is trying to legalise them by making them safer," he said, "The point is being missed by the DDTthey should be off the road altogether." Fellow tipperman Tom Denning of Co Mayo agreed: "A farm tractor is designed for four tonnes. It's the health-and-safety aspect I want hammered home. Let's put this issue to bed once and for all. No one doing international work has the unfair competition that tippermen have."

The North-East Branch called for action to be taken to limit road building delays by environmental protesters. "The government should ensure that there are not delays caused by people floating spurious objections for vested interests," said incoming vicepresident Jimmy Quinn. "The people who oppose roads oppose everything. They are against private enterprise, against progress." He cited archaelogical digs as a disruptive influence: "The stuff should be taken out of the ground and put in museums where everyone can enjoy it," he told delegates.

The Dublin Branch called for its own representative to fight for hauliers in the ports. The branch complained of a cartel of shipping companies. "We have to have secret meetings for fear the employers will find out who attended," said one delegate, "Some of us have been blacked. We need someone outside to deal with these issues."

The Mid-Western Branch called for a fuel rebate for essential users; Eamonn Morrisey said he had written to the government asking for a meeting with _.. the Department of Finance.


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