Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour) | Oireachtas source

It is really encouraging to have that on the record of the House. It will help to quash any concerns in relation to the issue.

We go through the arts industry and the events industry and we have spoken about aviation. Taxis drivers should be included with these industries which are going to be the last ones to recover from the pandemic. Taxi drivers have still had to pay out of their own pockets to install glass screens, acquire PPE and apply other protective measures to their vehicles. They need supports to recover from that. It almost goes unsaid but there must be a shift in how they are treated and respected by all. They are a vital service in the context of our transport system. Taxi drivers have been out there delivering people to vaccine appointments, testing appointments and doing an awful lot of unheralded work out of their own pockets in an unsafe and scary time. I certainly do not think that has been recognised enough and it needs to be put on the record. I thank the Minister for his replies today. We will continue working on this.

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