Seanad debates

Wednesday, 17 April 2013

Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Report Stage

 

5:35 pm

Photo of Sean BarrettSean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I regret the stand being taken by the Minister of State yet again. We will oppose other amendments. The spirit of what the Minister of State has said is to restore the industry to its pre-2002 position. He is using statutory instruments, which is what we caught him on the last time on the last vote, to undermine High Court decisions. Every time we try to see the liberal man who is opening up the market he always retreats. I will withdraw this amendment but I will press others because this is the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport at its worst with Neanderthal economics overturning policies on the flimsiest of grounds which have proven to be a success and he is going to restore a draconian regime. The worst part is that what is in the Bill is what the courts will be judging. The liberal sentiments that the Minister of State sometimes expresses do not have any standing in a court. This is restoring the old licensing system. The licences are already on sale in the Evening Herald each night for €3,500 whereas they cost €100,000 on the last occasion. The Minister of State is on a route on which I will not support him one inch of the way. I will withdraw the amendment but I will have to press other amendments because the economic policy he is proposing is going seriously off the rails.

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