Irish hauliers welcomed a package of long-awaited reforms announced by
Page 40
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
new Transport Minister Emmet Stagg at the IRHA conference in Killarney over Easter.
Stagg, the first Minister of State for Transport, Energy and -.Communications appointed from the ranks of Dick Spring's Labour Party, 'announced the introduction of 'continuous licensing accompanied by a "one-stop shop" for licensing and plating with tougher financial conditions for entry to the industry iand stricter enforcement of foreign operators working in Ireland. , These reforms are accompanied by recommendations to the Department , , . of the Environment to make
consignors liable where overloading is proved to be their fault. At last year's IRHA conference Stagg's predecessor, Noel Tracy, announced an increase in e life of an international licence from ree years to five with the same concession to follow for domestic licences.
The "one-stop shop" has long been a demand by Irish hauliers who receive their licences from the Department of Transport but have to apply to the Gardai (police) for their licence plates.
At the conference, Stagg told Commercial Motor that he had met the IRHA three times since December because he believes in pursuing an "open door policy". He is nothing if not a realist. Necessary reforms, he says, must be acted upon with speed. "I believe in doing things urgently or they won't be done at all—a transport minister has a short life."