Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I also thank him for including, in the recently published timetable, additional rail services at Woodlawn station for which that community are extremely grateful and appreciative.

I welcome the legislation today. As the Minister of State has said, the legislation is an attempt to clean up some problems and difficulties that occurred in the taxi business.

I share Senator Barrett's concern that there might be a suggestion that we are attempting to exclude new entrants or new operators. A real concern for people who operate in the business at present is that there are many unregistered or illegal operators who make life very difficult and jeopardise the livelihood of legitimate and properly regulated licensed operators.

We all agree that the public is entitled to a safe, affordable and reliable transport system. It is vital - and the legislation will provide for it - that people who have not been convicted of serious crimes or people who have a reputable character are the holders of taxi licences. We have seen a limited number of incidents of people who were convicted of serious crimes here being in possession of a taxi licence and it is a concern. People must feel safe when they are at their most vulnerable and they expect to be safe at all times in a public transport vehicle.

There has been a lot of talk about the quality of vehicles and Senator O'Neill referred to it.

It is frightening to think that a vehicle that had been written off by an insurance company could end up being used as a taxi. We must tighten the regulation to ensure that does not happen.

I agree with many of my colleagues that the majority of taxi drivers are decent, honourable people who go about their business in a professional manner. In many instances they go above and beyond the call of duty to assist and facilitate people who might be in difficult circumstances late at night or those who find themselves short of resources. They are amenable and accommodating to such people.

Many Members spoke about the demerit system, and I welcome what is contained in this legislation regarding that. It goes without saying that driver knowledge should be a prerequisite for obtaining and possessing a taxi licence. If taxi drivers are not in possession of the knowledge of the area in which they are operating they are not suitable people to be providing a service. There is no way the shortest available route will be traversed if a taxi driver is not in possession of the local knowledge.

A key part to this legislation, and it is an area many people are concerned about, is enforcement of the regulation. I have anecdotal evidence that on a night when somebody from the regulator's office is present in the city of Galway, all the illegal operators leave town and the legitimate taxi operators have a decent night's takings. However, as soon as the regulator is out of the area the illegal operators are back in business again. Putting in place a regulation system that can control that properly, and I understand the Minister of State might outsource this particular facility, will be the key to the success of the legislation before the House.

I ask the Minister to take on board the appeal made by previous speakers that in the event of the death of the licence holder, particularly where it is a family business, there will be some facility to allow the transfer of a licence to another family member.

An issue was brought to my attention which the Minister might address. I refer to a public service vehicle person who is a sole operator with two vehicles and depending on the number of passengers he may have to switch that vehicle's use several times during the day. This person recently attempted to register the two vehicles but he was told he could register only one of them and that every time he used the second vehicle he must take the other vehicle off registration and register that vehicle. Is there any way a situation like that can be accommodated where the person would not have to switch registrations several times a day?