As the Minister is aware, we believe that he should use the powers he has under the Consumer Protection Act to control the price of fuel, energy and so on. He has turned his face against that. However, there is one measure I would ask him to consider. Given that he has rightly given €100 per week to hauliers as an emergency payment to compensate for the rising cost of fuel because they depend on it to sustain their businesses, will he do the same for taxi drivers? Some 22,000 taxi drivers who were hammered during the period of Covid are again facing a massive hit in terms of the cost of fuel in order to sustain their businesses. Will the Minister consider extending the €100 a week emergency payment to taxi drivers?

I genuinely acknowledge the interest of Deputy Boyd Barrett in raising matters on the taxi sector for so long, particularly during the pandemic, and I know that it has had a very hard time. I cannot give the Deputy the commitment he is looking for. The reason we brought in the particular measure referred to was because of the impact that would have resulted from the haulage sector not being able to move goods around the country. The Minister for Transport will look at whether other measures are possible to help that sector in any way, but I am afraid I cannot give the Deputy the commitment that he is seeking.

While I am on my feet, on the matter raised by Deputy Cairns, the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Humphreys, has been in contact with Cork County Council and has made clear that her Department is available to help in any way. We are awaiting the proposal from the county council on the particular matter that the Deputy raised.