leciprocity for Ulster?
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'y Ian Sherriff, miTA 'T'S a great day for the Irish—well, almost. This week the Ministry of Transport timated that the Minister is consulting presentative organizations about a proposal I ease the regulations governing the issue of :tences to Northern Ireland and foreign wliers.
If the envisaged regulations become effecve they will introduce a shortened procedure hereby a Licensing Authority will have scretion to issue, on demand, a short-term :ence to a Northern Ireland or foreign )erator to carry goods between Great ritain and places abroad. British hauliers .e already enjoying such facilities abroad. he concessions do not apply to haulage trried out entirely in Great Britain.
When I contacted the Northern Ireland epartment of Development this week they ere quietly enthusiastic about the proposals. spokesman told me that they felt that 3MMERCIAL MOTOR had played an [portant part in encouraging this proessive step, limited though it may be. On ly 29, COMMERCIAL MOTOR reported at the UK Ministry and the Department of evelopment had been unable to make any itable reciprocal licensing arrangements. us followed the introduction of road freight ensing in Northern Ireland. At that time the inistry could not foreseee any modification our licensing system, and so this new think; must be welcomed.
In Licensing Casebook on August 26 I ;hlighted the ridiculous situation which mild arise if we entered into an agreement th Eire and failed to extend a similar ility to Northern Ireland. There seems no ,ubt now that such a situation would have me about, as goods are now passing daily nn Ulster into the Free State.
However, it appears that good sense has prevailed but, like the Ulstermen, I consider it wise to be only quietly enthusiastic at this stage. Why? Because the Minister is consulting representative organizations about the proposals—which indicates that the matter is not yet finalized. Who are the representative organizations ? Presumably the RHA and the Road Transport Association of Northern Ireland are among them. I know that the latter has already stated it is prepared to give reciprocity a trial for one year. This being so, I cannot see it objecting to the proposal.
What then of the RHA ? A spokesman for the Association had earlier stated that it did not depart from the Ministry view on the question of providing reciprocity. Provided that this attitude remains the same now that the Ministry's view has changed, then it appears that road vehicles will be crossing the Irish sea in ever-growing numbers in the months that lie ahead.