Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In a sense, I am disappointed but this is the start of the campaign. As a former Minister of State, I know the Minister has set a certain precedent and he has not had the opportunity to study this in detail. I hope he does so in due course. Chauffeur driven cars will not stop in a bus lane, unlike taxis that may pick up passengers. Chauffeurs go straight through with no delay and they add a certain prestige to the whole process of promoting Ireland. Many other issues are involved and we have prestigious business people coming in. In addition, Emirates Airlines and others are using chauffeur driven cars in Dublin. They are providing much employment.

From a transport and other points of view, this does not require new legislation but a ministerial order. Perhaps we could do this as a test run and make the concession to chauffeur driven cars during certain busy periods of the year, such as summer months in a pilot scheme to see how it would operate in reality. Would it affect traffic flow? Not many cars are involved and it is not a case of liberalising the entire situation. I will leave it open and will say nothing further because the Minister has a liberal approach to ministerial responsibility. In due course and after consideration and meeting representatives, the Minister may look at this afresh.