Feargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I second the amendment. I remember well how bad the sector was. I have had experience in more recent years of travelling to Brussels quite a lot. The Minister must travel to Brussels quite a lot but he may have somebody to meet him. Let us say that a flight arrives at 9.30 a.m. at Brussels airport then one will have to queue for an hour for a taxi in order to arrive at a meeting at 10.30 a.m. in the city. The delay is due to the airport being in a different district from the city. Only people from the area are allowed to take passengers away from there. I learned quickly what one must do. One must go to the departures gate and as a car pulls up to let somebody out one must cheat by jumping into the car. It is most frustrating to have areas in control of their own area unlike the Irish system. As Senator Barrett has said, the courts decided to deregulate the sector. The current proposal will introduce regulation on a geographical basis which is not in the best interests of the public or the taxi business.