Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

The reason I have tabled these amendments is that it is important, as I noted on previous Stages, that the issue of the hardship caused to a number of taxi drivers and their families as a result of the deregulation of the taxi market is redressed and the matter revisited by the Government. The matter should not be overlooked. Many Members, including Deputies of the other House, have noted that the payments made to compensate for the hardship incurred was inadequate in many cases. It is wrong that people operating in a regulated environment should suffer financial loss of such proportions due to an act of the Government without being compensated sufficiently. The Committee on Petitions of the European Union confirmed that the payments in this case were inadequate and asked that the issue be revisited. I am aware the Minister of State will not accept the amendments. I ask the Government to re-examine the matter.