Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)

—in the case of taxis, a monopoly on the number of taxi plates in the country, or, in the case of Fine Gael, a monopoly on morality and wisdom.

The taxi industry needs a taxi regulator as proposed by the Minister. I support his stance on the matter. The changes highlighted in this legislation will put in place the important structures to prevent the decline in standards that all of us have experienced as taxi users. The Bill will not cure all of the ills of the industry, nor will it remove all of the concerns that people of all ages have regarding the industry but it is an important start. The office of taxi regulator as proposed in the legislation was promised by the Fianna Fáil Party in the run-up to the general election. Once again, Fianna Fáil in government with its partners, the Progressive Democrats, is delivering the promises we outlined before the last general election.

The Minister, on taking office, promised his colleagues on this side of the House and the public that he would bring forward the necessary changes and appoint a regulator, He has now done this. I am always baffled to hear the likes of Senator Brian Hayes, the Fine Gael leader in this House, criticise the Government for attempting to enact legislation quickly. This week he bemoaned the fact that legislation was being rushed through the Houses of the Oireachtas, yet out of the other side of his mouth he criticised the hard-working Minister for Transport for not bringing forward legislation more quickly to deal with the establishment of a taxi regulator.

I am pleased to see that Senator Browne and his colleagues have come down from the clouds to welcome the Bill. I said the taxi industry needed structure, policies and procedures. I congratulate the Minister for providing these measures in the Bill. If I hail a taxi in London, I am safe in the knowledge that my driver has undergone a rigorous test and that his or her knowledge of routes, distances and journey times will be impeccable. I am also safe in the knowledge that the taxi will carry me to my destination, no matter how long or short the distance of the journey. Current practice at Dublin Airport and other places throughout the city of selecting which passengers to carry based on their final destination is a disgrace and unacceptable. The office of taxi regulator, when established, with a proper complaints procedure, will help to eradicate aspects of bad practice in the industry.