Andrew Carey
IRISH Road haulers who staged a blockade at one of Ireland’s largest shipping ports say they have been given assurances from the Department of Transport that there will be a clampdown on illegal haulage activity at the Limerick port.
Members of the association blocked the port of Foynes last Tuesday night in a bid to highlight what they claim is illegal haulage activity at the Co Limerick port.
The Irish hauliers used up to 16 trucks to prevent out-of-state truck drivers from leaving the county Limerick port but removed the blockade after assurances that their claims would be investigated
The IRHA action blocked a group of Dutch, Scottish and Northern Ireland haulers who were carrying loads destined for wind farms in Munster.
Eoin Gavin, IRHA president had discussions with the Department of Transport and said that there was a successful outcome.
“Today the Department of Transport has notified the Irish Road Haulers Association that there will be no more illegal activity or illegal haulage taking place out of the port at Foynes. That any of the movement to wind farms will be either done by registered Irish haulers or will be done in conjunction with European guidelines, and that the gardai will be checking every evening the vehicles that comply with the regulations and if not they will be summonsed.
A spokesperson from Shannon Foynes Port Company said the company is keen to see this matter, which affects all port authorities that handle imported wind-turbine components, resolved at the earliest opportunity
Shannon Foynes Port Company has no road transport regulatory role but we have had contact with the relevant authority, the Department of Transport, which is actively looking into the matter,” the spokesman added.
Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil’s Transport spokesman says foreign haulage companies are being allowed to ‘clearly and blatantly flout the law.’
Timmy Dooley joined members of the Irish Road Haulage Association on the barricade at Foynes Port on Tuesday night last.
“I am calling on the RSA as well as the Ministers for Transport and Justice to take action on this illegal activity. The IRHA has been forced to take action to highlight this and the Minister has a responsibility to meet with the association to hear their concerns,” Mr Dooly said.
“Jobs are at risk here and I would urge the Ministers to deal with this dispute with the utmost of urgency,” he added
