Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 12:

In page 12, to delete lines 2 and 3.

The amendment seeks to delete references to different circumstances and for different areas of the State. The entire sector was opened up to competition by a court decision. However, the Minister is attempting to reintroduce quantity licensing. Since 2003 local authorities have been removed from the sector. Here the Minister seeks different regulatory regimes for different areas in the State. It was a national regime when the Commission for Taxi Regulation was in charge. Yet again the Minister is unwilling to allow the markets to operate in a sector which has operated successfully. Yet again more restrictions are being imposed on competition within the industry. I move that he does not seek powers to prevent the market operating. The sector has operated successfully and increased in size. It generated €780 million of benefits that Goodbody calculated and provided extra employment. The sector did better without ministerial interference.

I endorse the recommendation made by the courts. I know that the courts and the Government are not exactly the best of pals at present but the courts were right about this issue. I see no reason to reintroduce a regime that did serious damage to the country until the courts opened up the sector. To return to a system which palpably failed based on untrue allegations about the success or lack of a successful deregulation is not the way to go. That is why I see the provision as needless regulatory creep and capture by incumbents rather than promoting an open market. The troika and everybody else has said that we should tackle the cost of sheltered sector services. The legislation seeks to protect the providers of sheltered services. The Minister is going in the wrong direction and that is why I tabled my two amendments.