Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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72. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of meetings he has had with an association (details supplied) since becoming Minister; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23229/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that while I have not personally met with representatives from the Irish Travel Agents Association since my appointment as Minister, both my officials and my Ministerial colleague in the Department, Minister Hildegarde Naughton, who holds responsibility for the aviation sector are maintaining an open engagement with the travel trade industry.

I understand that Minister Naughton met with representatives of the Irish Travel Agents Association on Wednesday, 22nd July to discuss ongoing issues, and on foot of that meeting, invited the ITAA to consider all of the current available supports for SMEs and identify whether anything additional is required.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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73. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of meetings he has had with taxi representatives since becoming Minister; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23230/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. The Advisory Committee on Small Public Service Vehicles, commonly referred to as the Taxi Advisory Committee, was established under the Taxi Regulation Act 2003 and continues in being under Section 72(1) of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 to perform the functions assigned to it under the 2013 Act.

I can confirm to the Deputy that following recent official-level from my Department at the Advisory Committee in July and August, I plan to hold my first virtual meeting with taxi industry representatives this Friday, 11th September to discuss the concerns of their members and the challenges faced by the sector.