Irish food for thought
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BULK carriers in the Republic of Ireland are expected to contact their Northern counterparts to agree a rates structure for grain movements from the South into Ulster.
This week saw the start of the movement of thousands of tons of grain from the Republic's five main grain wholesalers on vehicles operated from Ulster and at rates 25 per cent lower than the local operators could quote.
A spokesman for the Irish bulk carriers told CM, "More than 50 vehicles are involved and they travel from the North empty. We have approached our Minister of Transport but without any result.
"Now we must surely talk to the Northern operators and get them to co-operate with us at the higher rate." He explained that between them they could work out fully loaded round-trips at the Republic rates where operating costs are higher.
"We are engaged to drive the grain from the combine harvesters to the store at harvest time at rates that barely pay and then lose out on the profitable long haul," said the spokesman.
There was also bitter criticism this week over the Irish Sugar Corporation's alleged use of British hauliers to carry their machinery exports to Europe rather than use Irish operators. "This is going to blow up into a big row," said an Irish Road Haulage Association spokesman.