ALL THE PRESIDENT'S DREAMS
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Jimmy Quinn is halfway through his two-year stint as IRHA president. If he can take a share of the credit for some of the measures announced in the Road Transport Bill, likely to become law later this year, he will have made a progressive mark on the industry. But he admits: "It's hard to change transport policy ma short space of lime". He still has a number of important goals:
J Ending the UK's 38-tonne limit
Quinn reckons this restriction costs Irish operators up to 1,000 tonnes a week running across Britain. He lobbied Neil Kinnock on his recent visit to Dublin but got a negative response. The Irish Government supports the IRHA's campaign to bring Britain into line with other countries running at a minimum 40 tonnes.
_ROr entry charges New operators coming into the industry have to prove they have tIR2,000 capital for each vehicle. Quinn believes this figure is too low and should be doubled.
J Harmonising taxes
Hauliers and other service sector industries pay 40% corporation tax, as opposed to 10% for manufacturing and exporting companies. Quinn wants a harmonisation of tax across industry—"say 25%".
J Farm vehicles competing with hauliers
Quinn is angry that hauliers are subject to annual tests, regulations and VIP and may find themselves competing with farm vehicles hauling sugar beet distances of up to 50 miles. He wants a cap on operating weights of 17 tonnes on farm vehicles to make the prospect less attractive.