Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Many of the issues were covered, so I will just make a couple of comments. I know most of the lads from over the years, having been a transport spokesperson in this House for a good number of years. It is that perennial issue. They are back year after year with problems as they arise. It seems, rightly or wrongly, that there is not a proper structure in place to assist the industry. It is seen from a regulatory perspective. If the NTA, which is looking at the drivers as licence holders, it is all about making sure they reached the standards and do not do what they should not do. However, to hell with the rest of it and they should get on and do it themselves. That may have worked at a time. We have to treat the industry differently. We have to recognise that the taxi industry, to use the term across the board, is an integral part of our public transport system. If we took the same approach to trains, trams and the Luas, we would not have a decent public transport system. We have to integrate taxis, to use the term across small public sector vehicles, and find a way to ensure there is an agency or agent within the State apparatus.

I am not talking about setting up another quango. I am talking about establishing an office for taxi development or public service vehicle development. It seems ludicrous to me that taxi drivers are being messed around. I mean grants sound great and people may think they can benefit from them but one cannot get a car so there is no joined-up thinking. I am sure the Chairman will be familiar with the carbon reduction efforts by the State to meet our targets and we have various energy agencies. I am familiar with the Tipperary Energy Agency and I know that Mr. Barrett is from Tipperary but I am not. That agency was very good at figuring how all of these different things came together and could create a concrete project. We are going to have to find a way, whether it is within the NTA or somewhere else. With the best will in the world, the NTA has a job to do but that is one of regulation. I suggest that the committee invites the NTA to go through the issues that have arisen.