The Freight Transport Association in Ireland (FTAI) has demanded its members be exempt from the new heavy goods vehicle (HGV) levy.

Officials stated the tax would result in an increase in costs for haulage firms in the country when they have to traverse the A5 in Northern Ireland. This is at a time when taxpayers in the Republic are gearing themselves up to pay out around £50 million to improve the highway next year. 

The FTAI has called on the minister for transport, tourism and sport, Leo Varadkar to start lobbying his UK counterpart Patrick McLoughlin to introduce concessions for logistics firms in Ireland when using the road. 

General manager at the association Neil McDonnell stated: "It defies logic and fairness for the UK government to ask Irish operators to pay a levy for using this transit route."

Meanwhile the FTAI is also seeking concessions when traversing the A46/A509 highway in Northern Ireland. Mr McDonnell claimed this was an integral part of road infrastructure as many businesses in Donegal were completely dependent on the route for access to air and sea freight.