Mr. Kevin Barrett:

We have an issue in our local area, for example. We probably have at least 15 illegal operators in a region with a radius of approximately 30 miles. We have had four prosecutions in the past six months and those four people who were prosecuted were back out operating the night after. They are prosecuted in court. A big factor we need to cure the situation is that insurance companies need to be notified. When people are convicted in court, the insurance companies need to be notified. That is a big factor. People are taken to court and then also being given fines of €200 and €300. They are back out the night after working and earning that again. There has to be something. The courts have to be changed and the fine system has to be changed. Put a minimum fine of €3,000 or €4,000 in place. That certainly hits them in the pocket.

As for the biggest factor we have, while we have enforcement officers coming down from Dublin to do a job on these illegal operators, it is impossible to get the enforcement officers here constantly. Going back 15 or 20 years ago, we had the local public service vehicle, PSV, officer who dealt with these issues. He called to these illegal operators and gave them ultimatums to stop, or else. Something has to be done. We need transport police who can deal with these issues and have the powers to deal with these issues. The enforcement officers only have so much power. There are many ways to try to improve it. If these illegal operators can be taken out then it entices other guys to get into the industry and provides more taxis. Nobody is going to get into the industry when all these illegal operators are working and taking the bread and butter from the guys who are working. More and more guys are leaving the industry.