An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
Seanad Éireann — 2026-02-17
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Sharon Keogan (IND), Industrial and Commercial Panel

I welcome to the Gallery Dr. Eoin Lenihan, author of Vandalising Ireland , a book on how the Government, NGOs, academia and media are engineering a new globalist Ireland.
I wish to raise the escalating pressures facing the Irish haulage and transport sector. Pressures are now reaching a point where many operators describe themselves as no longer viable. Over recent months, hauliers have warned that rising fuel taxes, increased road and bridge tolls and new levies introduced since January are placing unsustainable burdens on the industry that is fundamental to our economy, especially to rural Ireland, where alternatives to road transport simply do not exist. Despite repeated engagement by organisations such as the Irish Road Haulage Association, budget 2026 offered the bare minimum of support. Measures long sought by the sector, including enhanced fuel rebates and relief on toll costs, were largely omitted. Many operators now fear that the narrow margins and collective cost burdens are pushing smaller hauliers out of business entirely, with knock-on consequences for supply chains, fuel distribution and rural competitiveness.
We have already seen signs of fragility within the broader logistics network, including the recent collapse of Fastway couriers, resulting in significant job losses and major disruptions. Hauliers also face growing regulatory challenges, particularly around the transport of heavy or abnormal loads, where proposed new permitted rules could add delays and hinder national energy and infrastructure delivery. I ask that the Minister appear before the House to outline how Government intends to respond to these mounting pressures, what engagement is under way with the sector, and whether further supports or regulatory adjustments are being considered to safeguard an industry that underpins every part of our economy.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-02-17/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:38+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-02-17