Transport Ministers to meet with Welsh and UK counterparts over Holyhead trade backlog

Minister of State at the Department of Transport James Lawless will this evening meet with Ken Skates MS, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, to help clear the trade backlog following the closure of Holyhead Port.

The two will meet at 6:30pm to explore all possible solutions to this problem through the use of alternative Welsh ports after Holyhead’s operations were severely curtailed in the aftermath of Storm Darragh.

A meeting with The Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, Secretary of State for Transport for the UK, is also being scheduled for next week with Transport Minister Eamon Ryan.

Both Minister Ryan and Minister Lawless will also have another meeting with logistics stakeholders tomorrow morning to address this issue, as well as separate talks with Irish Ferries and Stena Line Ferries.

Both Ministers were fully briefed by Department of Transport officials, the Irish Maritime Development Office and the National Transport Authority this morning as to how trade in goods and passenger traffic can be accommodated through alternative ports as effectively as possible in the wake of the recent damage to Holyhead Port from Storm Darragh.

Additionally, following consultation with department officials and the Road Safety Authority, the Ministers have decided to grant a temporary and limited relaxation of drivers hours rules, which will apply for a 14-day period from 14 Dec 2024 until 27 Dec 2024.

It will apply to all drivers of vehicles undertaking the transport of goods between the UK and Ireland and within Ireland, irrespective of their nationality. The necessity for a further extension to the derogation to the maximum allowed 30 days will be kept under review.

The easing of drivers hours rules will see the maximum daily driving time extended from 9 to 11 hours but not more than twice a week. This is in addition to an extension to 10 hours allowed under normal rules but also only twice per week.

However, this temporary exception is limited by a weekly driving time limit of 60 hours (ordinarily 56) and a fortnightly limit of 102 hours (ordinarily 90 hours).

In essence, drivers could work one longer week but then would need to make up for this the following week. A driver could drive 60 hours one week followed by a 42-hour week or could split the 102 hours over two weeks.

The required weekly rest period will also be reduced from 45 hours to 24 hours under the derogation.

While the current situation may impact on driving time, driver safety or other road users' safety must not be compromised. Drivers should not deviate from the rules if it jeopardises road safety nor should they be expected to drive while tired. Employers remain responsible for the health and safety of their employees and other road users.

For the avoidance of doubt, this is a national derogation, and does not apply outside of the jurisdiction of Ireland. It will apply in Ireland to all drivers in scope of the derogation and will be allowed by Ireland’s Road Safety Authority Enforcement Officers.

Meanwhile, both Ministers will continue to fully engage with all stakeholders involved in this issue over the coming days to ensure that there is optimal co-operation between companies so that freight, drivers and passengers can be accommodated ahead of the festive season.