Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I can only repeat what I said earlier, that is, that laws are passed here by us in the Houses of the Oireachtas. There is no law on Covid that did not come through this House. The Garda is responsible for enforcing the law. Statutory instruments can, of course, be revoked by this House. I have not yet seen a proposal to revoke any of the statutory instruments put in place since this pandemic began. As I mentioned, the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, is going to meet the advisory committee on small public service vehicles today. It involves some taxi drivers but also consumers and others who have an interest in the sector and industry.

On the issuing of new licences, there is widespread awareness of the acute difficulties facing the industry. Since the pandemic started, the number of licences issued has decreased to a very small one because, understandably, very few are entering the industry at present. I am told by the Department that in view of that reality and the fact that a formal halt to the issuing of licences would require legislative change and might be anti-competitive, the Minister does not see how a moratorium would deliver any real benefits to anyone at this stage.

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