Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----as there are jobs being held up which cannot be filled in rural hackney companies due to the intransigence of the National Transport Authority.

I met the taxi committee of the National Transport Authority and received a very fair hearing from the taxi representatives themselves, especially the rural ones. Lo and behold, after a very positive meeting and engagement, it was nailed by the National Transport Authority which circled the wagons to protect the status quo. I am disgusted with that. Since 2010, the number of hackneys in rural communities has dropped by 50%. The number of people failing knowledge tests is of the order of approximately 80%. I challenge any of the three witnesses or any member here, all of whom are from rural communities, to sit one of these tests. As I have said to Mr. Creegan before, on one of the tests, one is asked on which street in Doon can one find the Allied Irish Bank. There is no AIB branch in Doon because it closed. One is also asked on which street in Abbeyfeale is the Allied Irish Bank. It is not on any street, it is in the square. I am getting withered from it.