Ms Anne Graham:

In regard to the Uber model which is currently operated by Uber as a despatch operator. It uses licensed drivers and licensed vehicles. Deputy Higgins is suggesting using unlicensed drivers and unlicensed vehicles similar to those services being operated in other countries. Our suggestion, and this will be a decision for the Government, was that we do not believe you can increase the overall number of drivers based on having a regulated service operating alongside an unregulated service. We believe it is appropriate for this country to have a service where the driver is regulated, checked, Garda vetted and licensed and that the vehicle is also checked and licensed. The other issue is that we also regulate the fares. We set a maximum fare. Members might have read that in other countries in which Uber operates, they can charge surge pricing. You can imagine what level of surge would apply in these peak demand times at Christmas. There would not be a regulated, maximum fare in that kind of model. We do not believe it would necessarily add to the fleet by much and it could actually undermine the regulated system. It could draw from the regulated system overall. We found that in other jurisdictions, even in some of the American systems, they have moved away from the very open environment into a more regulated environment, which we have been able to maintain.