Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

To make it absolutely clear, I am answering as a Minister of State on behalf of the Minister for Transport. Ireland's SPSV regulatory framework requires that all drivers and vehicles be licensed as a means of protecting the consumer and helping to ensure public safety. Furthermore, no special regulations have been developed to govern the carriage of passengers by passenger cars that are not SPSVs. Therefore, the classic model where anyone with a car and the relevant app may provide taxi services does not exist here. The Minister for Transport believes that the protection of the consumer and personal safety are vital objectives and must continue to be central to how the SPSV industry is regulated and operated.

Within this context, however, there is a need to evolve and be open to new technologies and innovation. In this regard, there is now widespread use of technology in the SPSV industry. Such innovations are of benefit to both consumers and operators. The Department is open to new possibilities, but the regulation of any public passenger service into the future should continue to be determined in the context of the important safety and consumer objectives that underpin our existing legislation.

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