Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State is aware from amendments I made on Committee Stage and issues I raised on Second Stage that I am in total agreement with the principle at play in Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan's amendment. There are potential issues regarding competition but I support the spirit of what is advocated. The taxi business should be a full-time operation and taxi drivers should expect to be able to make a decent and honourable living from it. It is the only way we can be assured that a quality service will ultimately be provided to the consumer, so any legislation we enact should be aimed at trying to achieve that goal. I accept it can be difficult to do this in a legislative fashion because of other laws and competition issues but the matter should be at the heart of what we wish to do in this House.

A former Minister, Noel Dempsey, tried to address this matter through conditions dealing with the qualitative nature of the taxi business and putting certain regulations in place that make it difficult for those whom I would term fly-by-nights or part-time workers who cherry-pick the work at busy periods such as at weekends or when certain events are held. I encourage the Minister of State and his officials to try to put in place the appropriate level of restriction while recognising the necessity not to conflict with other provisions in broader legislation. We do not want this to be struck down by the courts.

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