Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I too want to thank Sinn Féin for bringing this motion forward. It is important. In many ways, we would have debated this earlier had we been properly functioning before now. I also want to acknowledge the effort that taxi drivers put in to showing the strength behind the need for a financial package to get drivers back to work.

Small public service vehicles are a vital part of the public transport system and we need to acknowledge that. Many taxi drivers ended up in this business following the last crash. Many made work for themselves and it was the tourism sector that was the first to show some green shoots following that crash. We will require them to be in a position to assist in that recovery when Covid is a thing of the past. We have to ensure that this sector, which is predominantly made up of taxi drivers as well as those who drive limousines and hackneys, comes out of this intact. How do we do that? We do it by supporting the industry.

Some people want to get out of the business, but they have loans and outlays that do not allow them to do that. We have all spoken to such people in recent months. They are in a catch-22 situation. Many are putting themselves at risk by virtue of the fact that they are in an age range that should not be mixing as closely as they are required to do at work. Many are not being paid an additional payment over the State pension. That is a difficult circle for them to square. They cannot square it on their own and requires support.

I know where the licence issue came from. I was on the taxi forum that was set up in the 1990s under the auspices of the Dublin transportation office. There were months of collaboration between various leaders in the taxi system and various agencies of the State. Some very good initiates came out of that. Taxi drivers did not expect the system to be deregulated before the ink was dry on the agreement. There were very valuable things done in the forum and much of that good work now requires us to take stock and examine how we can make sure the industry continues and is healthy and that people can make an income from it.

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While there is resistance to introducing a moratorium on the issuing of taxi licences, such a moratorium could be introduced for a specified period. That could be done quickly. Another issue is that there is not enough work for the number of taxi drivers we have. One only has to look at the taxi apps, which is where people often hail taxis nowadays, to see that there is no work coming in. It is important that we recognise that there are too many people seeking to earn an income from an economy which is not functioning. People are working at home, there is no night-time entertainment and our tourism sector, as least as it applies to outside visitors, is pretty much shut down. These areas represent the work needed to keep the number of taxi drivers we have gainfully employed.

It is really important that we consider Christmas. This is the most significant stretch of time with regard to night-time entertainment and, at this time, the economy functions slightly differently. Now is the time to look at this. We need to get the numbers down right across the country and especially here in Dublin because, if we do not, this period will be very difficult to manage while allowing the economy to function. It is really important to think about this particular sector because there are sectors within sectors. Airport runs, Christmas parties and so on were staples but that work is no longer there. This is a large sector and people need the wherewithal to get out of it at a time when new people are entering it because they are scratching around trying to pay their bills and provide gainful employment for themselves.

This is not the time to take a hands-off approach; it is the time for a hands-on approach. That is why a forum would be particularly valuable, in addition to the other supports that should be introduced. While there has been a great decrease in drivers' income - as much as 40% or 50% - the costs of paying their car loans, insurance premiums and car maintenance have not stopped. A taxi vehicle's life is ten years but this year has been a write-off. That period could be immediately extended. Maintenance obligations with regard to roadworthiness and licence obligations need to be looked at.

I support the use of bus lanes for buses and taxis. We do need to have a discussion, however, as to how to safely share our road space. We can share this space in a way that works for everyone. It is nonsense to mix double-decker buses and bicycles in the same lane. It is not safe for anyone and is not productive. I should be clear that I am not saying that buses or taxis should be excluded from these lanes but we do need to design our roads differently. In places such as Berlin and Paris, there are segregated arrangements. These make these cities safe places for people to function. We need to free up some surface space in this city. This could be done by developing the interconnector, which would allow the rail system to take great amounts of traffic off the roads thereby providing us with the surface space to design a system that functions in the way it should in a city with the amount of movement Dublin has. I am not, however, speaking about Dublin exclusively. We need to design the roads in all our urban settings so they are safe for public transport vehicles and cyclists to use.

It is absolutely essential that action and a hands-on approach are taken immediately. Some initiatives must be taken to show that Government is listening with regard to these huge challenges. I have no doubt that Government Deputies are hearing exactly the same things that I and other Members are hearing when people contact us. There is a sense of disbelief that, for example, people over 66 who have many outlays are required to work even when there is no income coming in. They are in a catch-22 situation. There is also a sense of disbelief that taxi plates are still being issued. A timeline should be developed, which would include a sunset clause if necessary, during which licences would not be issued to avoid making a bad situation worse.

There are things that could be done quickly. I urge the Government to take a number of initiatives in this respect. It can be done. When Covid is a thing of the past, we will require an economy which includes a functioning public transport system and public service vehicles to allow the tourism sector and the economies of our towns and cities to function. The taxi system will be vital to that.

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