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

I raised the problem I have with Questions on Promised Legislation being taken off the Dáil schedule on the Order of Business. While the Government might not have a legislative programme, there is a programme for Government, which contains commitments regarding various legislation, some of which has been rightly described by Deputy McDonald as "off the wall". We need answers to be given in the House about when those proposals will come forward.

Taxi drivers have been hammered during Covid-19, are unable to make a viable living and now face cuts to their pandemic unemployment payments. I have repeatedly asked questions on their behalf.

They are doing a drive-by protest, which I hope will be big, to the Dáil next Tuesday. They are looking for the assistance of the Government and to add insult to injury, the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, has said they have to get out of the bus lanes, as if they are not part of the public transport network. Does that require legislation? Is legislation planned in order that taxi drivers are no longer considered part of the public transport system?

It is kicking taxi drivers when they are down. Is that legislation coming forward? I hope the Taoiseach will tell the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, that is not acceptable. Rather than kicking the taxi drivers when they are down, I hope he will listen to some of the demands they have made and try to help them through this extremely difficult period.

See this speech in context