Jim McDaid (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)

Fine Gael proposed this amendment in the Dáil and, as a result, we inserted a new section 51. As Senator Brady pointed out, this is not a matter for the commission which is an independent body. There are 32 taxi meter areas in Ireland. The GPS is working in all these areas and if the taxi people want to use it, it is up to them. It is a commercially sensitive area. It is not for the commission to get into commercially sensitive matters but to regulate the area.

We agreed to the inclusion of section 51 as result of a request from the Senator's colleagues in the other House. The procedure agreed provides specifically for the making of complaints in respect of the condition and cleanliness of a vehicle, the conduct and behaviour of a driver, overcharging and matters relating to hiring generally. This is provided for in the new section which was inserted as a result of an amendment proposed by the Senator's colleagues in the other House. It is not a function of the commission to provide back-up to the taxi people, who have an excellent GPS. The function of the commission is to regulate and the complaints procedure is set out in section 51.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Question proposed: "That section 9 stand part of the Bill."