Sir, - The on-going rhetoric about the proposed deregulation of taxi and public house licences, as outlined recently by the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, has been reduced to utter farce.
Mr Noel Ahern, a Government colleague of Ms Harney and a brother of the Taoiseach, put forward views on deregulation which ran counter to those Ms Harney's. For some reason which completely eludes me, successive governments have operated a protectionist policy towards pubs and taxis, which in effect allows them to decide the level of competition within their own industries. I am sure the butcher, baker and candlestick-maker must be wondering how they can break into the golden circle. By allowing this policy to continue the Government is solely responsible for keeping the cost of taxis and public houses artificially high. Surely a case of high prices and low standards. - Yours, etc., Niamh Cooper,
Knocklyon Woods, Templeogue, Dublin 16.