Irish deregistration could break EU law
Page 6
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
NI The Irish government may be breaking EU law by de-registering trucks flagged out to the Republic, the Road Haulage Association claims.
Last month the Irish revenue commissioners began de-registering companies it considered did not have an operating centre or staff employed there, or an Irish Operator's Licence. More than 1,800 trucks have been reg istered in the Republic since March—about 80% of these came from Northern Ireland, the others originating in Scotland, or the North of England.
However, the RHA says the registrations were accepted by the Revenue in the first place and should be honoured. "Vehicles were registered under the legislation which existed at the time and now they are saying that these vehicles are going to be de-registered without giving companies an opportunity to fulfil the requirements," says Road Haulage Association spokesperson, Patrick Pedlow.
He points to the recent victory by Spanish fishermen who last month finally won compensation as a result of a UK Government decision to block them from registering boats here in 1991. He believes a similar case can be made for hauliers registering their vehicles in the Republic.
"They changed the rules and they expect people to comply with them from day one," says Pedlow. If the Southern government is going to de-register companies we will try to see what the story is. We think they may be breaking the law."