Freight transport and Brexit meeting
Deputy Mattie McGrath complained that the Freight Transport Association Ireland had not secured a meeting with the Tánaiste despite repeated requests and serious Brexit concerns. A Minister of State replied that meetings had in fact taken place, including one on Brexit implications and another was scheduled.
Yesterday, I received an email from the general manager of the Freight Transport Association Ireland related to Brexit. It has been writing to the Tánaiste for two years seeking a meeting. With all that is going on, including the exercise with 90 lorries in England, it is astounding that he has not met representatives from this association. How can he understand the real fears of many haulage businesses, which are a vital link for our freight to be transported to and from Europe and beyond, if he has not met them in the past two years? I cannot believe it. I appreciate that the Tánaiste briefed Opposition leaders about Brexit the other night but these are the business people of Ireland, employing thousands of people and delivering our products abroad. We need that continued but the Tánaiste has not met them for two years. Will he give a commitment to meet these people immediately? The general manager of the Freight Transport Association Ireland sent me an email asking for a meeting, which I will send on to the Tánaiste.
Comment on this
A meeting with the general manager of the Freight Transport Association Ireland, Aidan Flynn, took place. I met them and I met the logistics association on apprenticeships only the week before last.
Comment on this
Yes, but the Tánaiste may not be aware of that. We spoke about the skills needs for freight transport, distribution and logistics in the context of Brexit and a further meeting is taking place next week between the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and the Freight Transport Association Ireland. A meeting did take place to discuss the implications, complications and complexity of Brexit, and the effects this may have on the Freight Transport Association Ireland. We spoke about customs clearance, supply chain management and logistics. A further meeting will take place next week.