Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I understand what Deputy Robert Troy is getting at. I am not, however, inclined to agree with him because of the unintended consequences of this and because it is in the wrong Bill. I am somewhat surprised it is in the Bill at all and it was permitted. However, it is there because two of these particular amendments come under the Taxi Regulation Act. The issue will not be resolved just by amending the definition for small public service vehicles.

The policy being developed by the National Transport Authority, NTA, will include consideration of several key elements. These include the vehicle standards applicable, the body responsible for testing the vehicles, the licensing of the vehicle for hire for reward, the licensing of the driver and associated suitability criteria, the fare structure, the appropriate vehicle markings to show it is licensed, the enforcement of the requirements and associated penalties. The draft policy will be submitted to the Department - I apologise if I made a mistake earlier - by the end of January for consideration and approval, following which any amending legal provisions will be identified and including, in future, primary legislation which would be a Bill to amend the Taxi Regulation Act 2013.

If the proposers will agree to amend this, I will certainly bring the results of the NTA report to the House immediately when I get them.

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