Road hauilers traveling from Ireland to France will be required to have a negative COVID-19 test result from Thursday.

Under new rules from the French government, hauliers boarding direct ferries to France will require a negative result from a test taken less than 72 hours before departure.

Euguene Drennan of the Irish Road Hauliers Association (IRHA) told the Irish Farmers Journal the move will cause unnecessary trouble and grief for hauliers.

Many hauliers have switched to direct sailings to avoid delays when using the UK land bridge.

The Department of Transport said it was working to provide State-supported antigen testing facilities for drivers, with tests made free of charge at dedicated testing sites near the ports of Dublin and Rosslare.

Tests

However, Drennan warned that all centres were not yet ready and he expressed concerns that there would be major delays around the ports for the next two to three days.

For agricultural products, the main concern is that loads ready for export on Friday and Saturday could become entangled in these delays and miss sailings. Beef and lamb are among the main agricultural products moving through France.

Drennan said a third centre in Holmestown on the N25 was not ready and there was no indication when it would be

They are destined for the main continental markets of Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium as well as those in France.

Two testing centres that will be operational are in Dublin airport and in Gorey.

Drennan said a third centre in Holmestown on the N25 was not ready and there was no indication when it would be. This centre would handle traffic approaching Rosslare from the south of Ireland.

Own goal

“It’s another own-goal not to have the facilities ready to administer the appropriate tests in an efficient and speedy manner to get trucks to the terminals on time,” Drennan said.

He warned that any delays in testing hauliers will have knock effects down the line which could result in trucks missing sailings.

“It would be disgraceful if this happens because we fought hard to get the extra direct capacity,” Drennan said.

Drivers are permitted to seek a private test but these costs will not be covered by the State.

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