Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

All the Deputies have identified a problem and I should acknowledge that. It is right to say there is a problem. The reply I gave, which is that Dublin City Council and the NTA are looking at it, appears to me to fail somewhat to meet the justifiable impatience I sense at this meeting. There is a certain amount of concern, which I share. I will not include provisions in this Bill because of some questions that need to be answered. It needs time. I refer to the legal definition of "vehicle", who will test the safety of vehicles, whether there will be licences as with taxis, how the fares will be set and by whom, who will regulate fares and issues around the regulation of drivers. All those issues are being discussed by the NTA and Dublin City Council. I could say I will include provisions now but that would delay the Bill. That is the reality. However, I will get on to the NTA and Dublin City Council before Report Stage and come back to Deputies to say what is happening and proposed in more detail. To be fair, I have not given them nearly enough detail here. Primary legislation will be required and that legislation must be sound. I do not want to rush it and have a flaw there. I will report back to Deputies because I acknowledge that this is a problem and that we will have to regulate. Perhaps the issue needs an injection of urgency. I hope that is adequate for Deputies. It is the realistic situation.