Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

While I will not accept the amendment, I am in full agreement with the principle behind it, which is concerned with transport needs in rural areas and the transport requirements of rural dwellers. No other Minister or Minister of State who dealt with the taxi industry kept referring to the fact that we must regulate it for the entire country. What applies in Dublin does not apply anywhere else, not even in Cork which has its own urban issues, or in Limerick. Specific issues arise in Dublin. Completely opposite issues arise in rural Ireland where there is market failure, which is why this legislation contains provision to ensure we will have other forms of licences such as the rural hackney licence, to which I have referred. The reason I did not accept earlier amendments on part-time drivers is anyone driving in rural Ireland is a part-time driver. For this reason, I accept the Deputy's bona fides, but the objectives of the NTA in carrying out its functions under section 19 are intended to be fulfilled on a State-wide basis.

I have the benefit of having spent almost 15 years of my life in urban settings, but being a good rural Tipperary man, I understand thoroughly the issues from a rural perspective. I assure the Deputy there are sufficient provisions under section 20(2) to allow the authority to make regulatory provisions to meet different circumstances and areas of the State, including specific provision for rural transport, in which I know he has a keen interest. For example, this provision will allow the NTA to make regulations for any specific SPSV requirement necessary to facilitate the aforementioned rural hackney licence. Therefore, I cannot see a need to make such additional provisions in the Bill which certainly covers the requirements of the Deputy. It covers the requirements of rural dwellers and allows flexibility in creating new licences, dealing with the issue of community cars and dealing with voluntary, community and charitable groups which needed to be cleaned up. I thank the Deputy for his contribution, but I do not believe the amendment is necessary.

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