The derogation of roads in the North from UK HGV Levy is imperative for the continued success of economic relationship between Ireland and Northern Ireland for hauliers and truckers, says Deputy Joe McHugh.
Joe McHugh TD
The Fine Gael Deputy says this is an issue that I have been raising in every capacity available to him.
“I brought it up with both the First Minister, Peter Robinson, and the Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness during a recent visit to Stormont. I also followed up formally in writing with the hope that it would have a real impact with both. I have also raised the issue with the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC).
“I attended a public meeting on the matter in Donegal and following this, I set up a meeting with Minister Varadkar and the Donegal Truckers to highlight the urgency around the introduction of this Levy, which will come into effect from 1st April.
“Minister Varadkar has met with his British counterpart, Stephen Hammond, MP in seeking the derogation of certain key roads in Northern Ireland, as well as continuous engagement with members of the Parliamentary Party and I commend the Minister for his ongoing hard work at raising this issue on all fronts,” he said.
The Donegal Deputy has been working closely with his colleagues in the Parliamentary Party and has asked An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, to raise the issue with the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, at their bilateral meeting next week.
This issue was first brought to his attention by the Irish Road Hauliers Association, who have been campaigning tirelessly against the introduction of the Levy in Northern Ireland due to the harmful economic impact it will have on their members and the anti-competitive nature of the legislation, he said.
“I am writing to the Minister for Communications, Energy and natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte as the Minister will be in the UK for St Patrick’s Day and will be in a position to raise it with his UK counterpart. I had an opportunity yesterday, at a meeting convened by the US Embassy on North-South relations, to discuss this issue with the CEO of the British Irish Chamber of Commerce and I highlighted the negative implications this Levy could have on British-Irish relations.
“I have written formally, and in my capacity both as a Public Representative of Co. Donegal, who I believe will be impacted the most by the Levy, but also in my capacity as Chairperson of the Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and Co Chair of the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly, to Patrick McLoughlin MP,Secretary of State for Transport , as well as the Ambassador from the UK to Ireland, Dominick Chilcott, CMG and the Northern Ireland Minister for the Environment, Mark H Durkan, MLA.
“Aside from writing to my colleagues and relevant political representatives, I have been continuously raising this issue at every opportunity so as to get the message out there that this legislation has been passed in Westminster, will come into effect from the beginning of April 2014, and that hauliers who use the roads in Northern Ireland will be affected by this Levy. I raised the issue during today’s Good Friday Agreement Committee meeting, which was supported by members of the Committee, and also raised it recently in Derry at a meeting with the North/West cross-border group.
“This is a UK Levy being introduced on UK roads so it is imperative that those introducing the legislation and those who will be regulating and enforcing the Levy are aware of the impact this will have on Irish drivers who are forced to use Northern roads when traversing the country. What we are asking for is not special treatment, but for the implications of such a Levy to be considered in the context of both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland being a unique situation and extra consideration needs to be given to such legislation and the economic impact this will have on Irish businesses.
“The social and economic relationship between Ireland, Northern Ireland, and the UK is a very close one and it is on this basis that I would encourage those who have deciding powers in this decision, to seriously consider and review the possibility of the derogation of certain roads in Northern Ireland.”
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