Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The amendment will not be withdrawn. No issue arises over privacy, nor does one arise over contracts of employment. This legislation has been examined by the legal advisers in the Office of the Attorney General. What we are doing is addressing an issue of safety. It is quite clear that if somebody?s job requires driving for a long time, his driving a taxi after work - which would involve continuous driving - would comprise a serious safety issue.

We are empowering the National Transport Authority to make provisions in regard to the hours one can work. The legislation is not an attack on part-time drivers. The industry needs them. I come from an area where the job of taxi driver is a part-time occupation in most cases. On Report Stage, I will be elaborating more on this matter so as to meet the request of my learned colleague.