The Irish government has said it will act upon several recommendations highlighted in an independent report into the issuing of road haulage licenses.

Department of Transport officials said new legislation is already afoot to strengthen the future issuance of road transport operator licences.

The Farrelly Report made a number of recommendations to shore-up and improve procedural and processing matters.

Transport Minister Noel Dempsey said the report had raised questions about Ireland’s compliance with EU law in this area.

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"The Department sought and received legal advice on the issue and it is for this reason that I am today announcing new legislation for the sector."

He said it was "imperative" that the highest possible standards in the road transport sector were maintained.

From the 10 September, new legislation will make it possible to automatically disqualify any operator from holding a road transport operator's licence who has serious criminal convictions.

The Department will be carrying out checks, in conjunction with the Gardaí, to identify those licensees that are disqualified under this new legislation.

Any licensee continuing to operate while disqualified risks receiving a maximum fine of €500,000 or three years in prison, or both.

The Minister also announced today that he will introduce a further regulation, broader in scope, that will cover other relevant persons working in licensed transport operations, such as directors, transport managers and drivers.

(PR/KMcA)