Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy is not reflecting the views of the established taxi organisations on the current process. The taxi advisory council, whose letter I quoted and which represents these organisations, is satisfied with the level of engagement and accepts that things are happening and that change is taking place. It is part of the process of consultation. I accept the Deputy's point that whether people are in the Irish Taxi Council or some of the other representative bodies, they are in difficult circumstances. However, this is a result of the state of the economy, and there is no easy solution except to restore the economy.

With regard to achieving change in the taxi regulations and the implementation of recommendations made by other bodies, including the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport, the proper way to do that is not by engaging in disruptive behaviour-----

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