Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I understand that. Section 7(4)(b) enables the NTA to make regulations, if needed, to address issues such as drivers operating in the voluntary sector or in other circumstances while section 7(4)(c) enables the authority to make regulations to address the area restrictions that currently exist in regard to standing or plying for hire. Some of the issues relate to making provisions to distinguish between taxi and hackney requirements, to deal with the voluntary sector and to address the proposal that emerged distinctively from the review committee to examine the provision of a rural hackney licence in the future. It has not come into play yet but it is being examined because there are no taxis in certain areas of the country. In some cases, there is no market but this provision makes it possible for us to consider whether we can provide for such a need in remote rural areas.