Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State is doing well, but there are many assurances that must follow on from it. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. We need to see whether words translate into action. That is what taxi drivers want to know. Let us hope they do translate. I fully accept that the legislation makes substantial progress, but I am questioning whether it will fully cover all bases.

This issue is important in itself because we want to promote a public transport system that facilitates people with a disability. We want to do everything to assist in this regard. It is expensive for taxi drivers to adapt their vehicles to make them suitable for use by people with disabilities. This amendment seeks to acknowledge that fact and give assistance to taxi drivers to provide a service that can be used by people with disabilities.

An issue raised with me last night makes this amendment even more important.

It confirms the need for this amendment and also for action by the Minister. There may even be a requirement for regulations which go beyond this amendment. I raised with the Minister of State prior to the debate on this legislation the fact that it appears that organisations which have charitable status and are providing transport services for people with disabilities and the elderly are going way beyond their remit and essentially acting as companies competing with taxis for normal taxi business. They are undercutting normal taxis by using the benefit of grants and subsidies they receive from the Government to charge lower fares than taxi drivers would charge for the same service. That is a serious abuse and puts taxi drivers at a serious disadvantage.

There is one particular firm whose name I should probably not mention in the House but ---

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