Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I second the amendment proposed by Deputy Thomas Byrne to the Order of Business. I agree with Senator Aideen Hayden on the taxi industry. Every Tuesday morning as I drive past Heuston station there are 40 or 50 taxis parked there with little or no movement. It must be soul-destroying for those who have to work in that environment. The Luas and the bus are available to take passengers to Abbey Street. I suggest the regulator examine the issue. I call for a debate on the development of the whole taxi industry. I agree that the standard of taxis, which is pathetic in the capital city, should be upgraded. New York has the Yellow Cabs and London has the Black Cabs whereas Ireland has not got around to having a standardised vehicle to provide a service. The vehicles used are a rag-bag type of car, some are good while others are in poor condition. It would be a worthwhile exercise to invite the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport or the Minister of State at the Department with responsibility for transport to attend the House to discuss the up-to-date position on the taxi industry.

I am delighted to announce that taxi drivers are very anti-Government at this stage. I was in a taxi the other day and the driver could not say enough bad things about the Government, which was music to my ears.