T1. Mr Durkan asked the Minister for Infrastructure for his assessment of the suitability and effectiveness of existing taxi legislation and to state whether he has any plans to review it. (AQT 381/22-27)

Taxi legislation and the challenges that face our taxi industry have been raised with me many times. My view is that the main challenge that faces our taxi industry is not the current taxi legislation but the different economic factors that have come into play as people's habits have changed since COVID, their spending limits have been reduced as a result of the cost-of-living crisis and different employment opportunities have arisen for those who normally drive taxis. There is a range of issues. To date, I have not committed to reviewing taxi legislation, as resources and personnel in my Department will not allow me to do so. I have to prioritise other matters. I am committed to working alongside the taxi industry and taxi drivers to do what I can, but if I am going to do something, I want to make sure that it will be an effective response to their needs.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as a fhreagra.

[Translation: I thank the Minister for his answer.]

The Minister has given his personal view. It certainly does not seem to be a party view, because a previous Minister, Chris Hazzard — this pre-dates COVID and the problems that the Minister outlined — expressed a desire to review the legislation on the basis that it was outdated. If it was outdated in 2016, is it not outdated now?

The Member should never look back in anger. This is 2024. I am now the Minister for Infrastructure, and I have to make decisions that are based on the reality that is in front of me now. The Member asked what had changed since 2016. COVID, the economy, available jobs: all those things have changed, right? So, how do we support our taxi industry? How does our legislature support our taxi industry? I am open to engaging with the taxi industry. In fact, rather than having a constant conversation about reviewing the legislation and about what one of my colleagues committed to eight years ago, I am writing to the Department for Transport in England to ask it not to proceed with the VAT increases on taxi fares and taxi operators, because that will have the most devastating impact on taxi operators.