The Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) has today, 29th of September, stated that it has held constructive discussions with the UK Home Office regarding the fines being levied on IRHA members while transiting the port of Calais.
The IRHA attended a lorry security conference in Brussels hosted by the Home Office of the UK Government and UK Border Force security chiefs to engage directly with the haulage industry. The Home Office objective was to establish effective methods to combat the problems of illegal migrants disrupting freight traffic in collaboration with the industry.
Commenting after the event, President of the IRHA Ms Verona Murphy said “The UK Border Force acknowledged that there are issues within the current policy structure and have therefore agreed to review and update the current legislation in-line with the crisis as it exists.”
Ms Murphy continued “The Home Office and Border Force Agency have agreed to reconsider, as a whole how it applies fines for clandestine entrants and has committed to negotiating with the IRHA as regard fines that have already been incurred by members for clandestine entry.”
The IRHA has stated that the Association will be also shortly engaging in round table talks with senior UK Border Force officials in relation to the current application of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
ENDS
For further comment please contact IRHA President Verona Murphy on 087 253 2720