Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I think the Minister can be the saviour of the local rural pub. I had an epiphany moment across the street in Buswells Hotel last week when Uber briefed various Deputies on what it wants to do and what the Department is doing. The company was complimentary of hackney licensing, which it believes will have huge benefits. Following an announcement in January, hackney licences are to become available in another group of towns. Licensing is currently geared around population centres. I do not know if the Minister takes a tipple but certainly in the west rural pubs struggle midweek. They usually have a good Friday or Saturday night but even that is a struggle at the moment. Uber has suggested that the local postman or school teacher, and whoever else, could register with Uber and the Department to get a hackney licence. They could then be the person who on a Friday and Saturday night from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. gets people home safely from the pubs. It could be the teetotaller in the community. This could be expanded much more. All it takes in a small village is one or two people who may already have day jobs. It would not necessarily put a taxi out of business. It would be looking at gaps in rural areas, rather than towns that have a taxi service. Thus far the licensing has been more about towns and villages than smaller population bases. It could be the saving of rural Ireland if we had a more expansive role in this.