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Freight Transport Association Ireland calls for safe passage for drivers in Calais

The Freight Transport Association Ireland (FTAI) says lorry drivers should be able to pass through the Port of Calais without fear of violence or the threat of being fined for concealing stowaway migrants on board.

The comments by FTAI General Manager Neil McDonnell follow claims by a charity worker that truckers should change jobs if they cannot handle the situation at the French port.

Mr McDonnell said: “These remarks suggest it’s just part of the job for freight drivers, that the issue is unimportant and they should simply get on with it.  Concern for the safety and welfare of freight drivers is not anti-migrant, we just want to ensure they can do their job safely.

“Freight drivers are an absolutely key part of Ireland’s supply chain, accounting for approximately 98% of the country’s inbound and outbound freight. They have the right to transit European ports without threat of intimidation or violence.”

Problems in Calais have escalated over recent months with numbers at the migrant camp reaching around 6,000 and attacks on drivers and their vehicles becoming more frequent.  Trucks are surrounded by migrants as they queue to cross the Channel and drivers face fines of up to £2,000 per stowaway if they are discovered on board.

FTAI is calling on the French government to move the camp away from the port so drivers can pass through safely, and to establish a process so that genuine refugees can access the help they need.

Mr McDonnell said: “We call on the French authorities to ensure that Irish drivers can safely access Northern ports, free from the threat of violence and the risk of unauthorised boarding by migrants.”