Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy O'Rourke of Sinn Féin for tabling the motion. I also thank the organisers and participants of the huge demonstration that took place in Dublin yesterday. In an ideal world, it would have matched up on the same day as this motion was taken but alas, for reasons that have been well discussed, it was not to be. It was a powerful demonstration and one that showed the unity of purpose and cohesion that has emerged in the taxi movement during what it has gone through and continues to go through in this pandemic.

It has been well discussed which sectors have been impacted and to what degree during the pandemic. Obviously the health sectors have been impacted in a particular way. On the economic side, we see the aviation and arts sectors on their knees, the domestic tourism sector struggling and taxi drivers absolutely on their knees. The extra complexity with taxi drivers is that they are dependent on those previous sectors. They are dependent on a thriving services industry, as was mentioned by the Deputy from Louth with regard to runs to the PayPal factory. It is similar in my constituency with the big employers and in constituencies throughout the country.

The early morning couple of hours is vital to get a few quid on the table and enables taxi drivers who are unable to work unsociable hours late into Friday and Saturday nights to make money. Those runs are vitally important and the fact that they, as well as everything else, are gone has been a further nail in the industry.

We have to face facts. The men and women who drive our taxis have never been truly respected by this House or many other sectors throughout the country for the service they provide. During this pandemic they did runs to pharmacies and hospitals and brought people for Covid tests. We all know one of the flaws in the Covid testing system was the requirement to have a car. That impacts in particular on older people and people who do not drive. They are just as vulnerable and, in the case of older people, more vulnerable, to the illness. Taxi drivers stepped up and got them to their tests. Many did so without taking payment. I know that for a fact. They felt it was their opportunity to assist in the all in this together movement of which we have all been a part. It was their public service, the two words in the middle of their four-letter acronym. They did so without too much fuss and for the good of those individuals and the country.

As Deputy Crowe said, they have been given the bare minimum in return. They have been given a few pointers. They have been told they can engage with the insurance industry and that something else will be paused. All we have to do is look back at the time when face masks became compulsory on public transport. There was a large photo op in Merrion Square with the then Taoiseach, Minister for Health, the NTA and Dublin Bus. It was fantastic. I know bus, train and Luas drivers were happy with that clarity and at least knew where they went. Taxi drivers were totally excluded from that, and they are in closer proximity to passengers. We have come a long way with our mask wearing, but we have to remember where we were in June when that decision was made. Taxi drivers were left outside of that and remain so. It is just not good enough.

There was a really powerful meeting of the Covid committee in July with representatives from the taxi industry to discuss what they were going through. Many of their asks are still as, if not more, relevant than they were in July. The taxi industry has been criticised over the years for having too many diverse voices and not being unified, but when it came to the Covid committee it sent a joint submission. Following on from yesterday, we are seeing a unity of purpose and the industry coming together.

The motion is very good and detailed, and I commend Deputy O'Rourke on it. This issue was mentioned in the Covid committee a couple of months ago, but no progress has been made. The Government should consider immediately stopping the issuing of new licences. That is common sense. The Government needs to examine the possibility of a grant system. It cannot be one size fits all. Rather, it would have to be something that has some flexibility. As has been mentioned, while income has hit the floor the costs have remained the same if not increased. They need something more tangible than pointers and guidelines.

Vehicle age limits are an issue and are included in the motion. If there is a way of finding some kind of consensus on extending vehicle age limits, the Government should consider agreeing to that.

Cashless payments, Government transport contracts and school runs have been mentioned. Taxi drivers are more than willing to do school runs. We know Bus Éireann is scrambling to try to find minibuses and coaches to do school runs. Taxi drivers are available and willing to do that work. It would cost money but it would get children to school and ease the burden on parents who are struggling with having to get to their place of work as well as getting children to school.

There needs to be a genuine promotion of the use of SPSV. It needs to be put forward as a genuine option and something that gets the full weight of support. We need taxi drivers. I live in an area that has no rail link and is only served by Dublin Bus. There is a large rural area in my constituency with a very irregular bus service and no rail link. Taxis are a vital public transport solution for people living in such areas. The Government needs to back that up by promoting them.

I mentioned face masks and visors. It almost seems too late to say so, but they are still important. A clear message needs to be given by the Minister to the industry with respect to face masks and visors. That would not only provide clarity, but would also tell those in the industry that the Government cares about them as much as they care about buses, trains and those who are delivering other transport services.

There is a need for a package for the industry and relief for insurance and other costs that have racked up as many have been unable to work. There is also a need to recognise the impact of this situation on the mental health of many taxi drivers at this time. They are, by definition, sole traders and many work on their own. Many are raising families. Many others are on their own. They have endured a particular sense of isolation during the pandemic due to having no work and being unable to discuss that with colleagues as one might be able to if one is part of the company.

It also comes from years and years of not being respected. If there are opportunities to come from this pandemic, one is the possibility of changing that narrative for this sector and others. The motion is a very good way of doing that and that is why we are supporting it.

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