Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Richmond is looking very well after a year of sleepless nights and so on. I commend him on that. There have been exceptions and we have to police it, but the public transport system here has, by and large, lived within the parameters set out in public health advice which is stricter than in other countries. There are very few other countries which apply the signage on the seats in effectively taking out half or 75% of the seats. That leads to enforcement, in a way. Similarly, I understand that mask wearing is in the high 90%. It is the Irish people who have policed that. I will look at parking charges particularly for critical workers at this time.

Deputy Devlin is correct that the taxi industry has had real difficulty. Their business, like so many transport businesses, has disappeared. The PUP has been critical. There is also the ability to earn and cover expenses for those who are able to work which will be a vital measure as numbers return. I will engage with all the stakeholders. The Department is currently looking at filling the vacancies on the taxi advisory committee. I will engage further and listen to the taxi industry representatives.

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