Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I accept the spirit of what the Senator is saying but do not believe this proposal is necessary. Subsection 21(3) provides for consultation with the advisory committee on maximum fares. Section 56 requires that at least two members of the Taxi Advisory Committee shall be from organisations that, in the opinion of the Minister, represent the interest of consumers. That covers it. The National Consumer Agency, the National Disability Authority and the Competition Authority are represented on the committee at present. They were under review and it was noted that they conducted their affairs very diligently and satisfactorily. They put across their views quite strongly in many cases, although not because of strong chairmanship. Hence the branding one sees on cars around the city of Dublin and the rest of the country today.