Super truck ruling has no relevance here - Taoiseach

An EU court ruling which overturned a ban on lorries using a stretch of road in Austria has no relevance to the issue of so called ‘super-trucks’ in Ireland, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said today.

He was speaking following the decision by the European Court of Justice on a regional government ban imposed on trucks of more than 7.5 tonnes on a stretch of main road linking Germany and Italy through the Austrian Tyrol.

Although the ruling related to weight and not height of vehicles, it has led to renewed argument in Ireland over the future of the 4.95 metre-high super-trucks, which are too tall for the Dublin Port Tunnel.

The Taoiseach said: “This has no relevance at all here, it can’t pass over.

“Local authorities and the authorities can pick the height so it doesn’t affect us – that’s a wrong interpretation of it.”

The Taoiseach has previously said the super-trucks should not be allowed in Ireland, but Jimmy Quinn of the Irish Road Hauliers Association said Mr Ahern was out of touch with the reality of haulage in Ireland.

“There is a lack of tolerance around these vehicles, which is seriously worrying as Ireland is the most dependent of EU countries on road transport.

“These vehicles are being used by household names to deliver lightweight consumer goods in a cost-effective way,” he said.

The European Court’s decision found the ban was out of proportion to environmental concerns, and that a lack of alternative routes for the lorries meant it was restricting free movement of goods between member states.

Mr Quinn hailed the Austrian ruling as a victory for common-sense, and said the association would fight a ban on super-trucks, which are in use in Ireland.

A number of proposals are being considered by Minister of State Ivor Callely following a public consultation on vehicle height restrictions in Ireland.

Mr Quinn said: “They’re afraid to make a decision because they’re going to be ridiculed either way, and it’s a very unsatisfactory situation for a country that depends on road transport.”

But Labour’s Transport Spokeswoman Roisin Shortall said the Government must go ahead with a proposed ban on the trucks.

She said the Austrian ruling should not be used as an excuse by the Government to renege on its promise to limit the height of lorries in Ireland.

“There are compelling environmental, social and safety reasons for imposing restrictions on these trucks and I have no doubt that regulations imposing restrictions on them could be drawn up that would not conflict with European law.

“Indeed several European countries already have either restrictions or full bans,” she said.

A Dublin City Council spokeswoman said a proposed ban on all trucks using roads through the city centre between 7am and 7pm, which is due to be introduced when the Port Tunnel opens, would not affect the use of the super-trucks.

Although the vehicles are too tall for the tunnel, alternative routes would be provided for them, she said.