Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)

I wish to share time with Senator White, if that is acceptable.

I welcome the Minister and his officials. Those of us who use taxis or hackneys on a regular basis know exactly the reason this is essential legislation. The Minister and other speakers have highlighted the fundamentals of the legislation and the role of the advisory council to the Commission for Taxi Regulation. When enacted, the Taxi Regulation Bill 2003 will, as the Minister stated in Dáil Éireann, create the framework for the application of the highest standards to the vehicles being used as public service vehicles, their drivers and operators. These changes are essential if the services provided by taxis and hackneys are to develop to a point where we can state the service can be compared to the best anywhere in the world.

If we stand back and look at the situation here in Ireland, each of us can agree there are great similarities between the taxi industry and the Fine Gael Party. I must first qualify that statement by saying both Fine Gael and the taxi industry have many fine, honourable and hard working members, which cannot be disputed, but like the taxi industry, Fine Gael suffers through of lack of leadership, lack of cohesion and lack of structure.