Taxi app Hailo has backed the Department of Transport's opposition to ride-sharing services using unlicensed drivers, like those offered by companies such as Uber in other countries.
Hailo's general manager for Ireland, Tim Arnold, said the current regulation was fit for purpose and Hailo exemplifies a company with the ability to innovate within the law.
"Ride-sharing, and the substantial lowering of standards that it would entail, amounts to a race to the bottom on quality and price that would jeopardise passenger safety," he said.
Last week media reports said that the new Minister for Transport, Shane Ross, had been strongly advised by his officials to not to allow car-sharing firm Uber to operate services using ordinary drivers rather than taxi drivers in Ireland.
Uber does operate in Ireland, but in order to comply with the law, its drivers must have a valid taxi licence.
The company has been seeking a relaxation of the rules to allow it to run a service similar to the one it does in others countries, where its drivers do not need to be licensed taxi drivers.
Hailo's Tim Arnold said Hailo has shown that it is possible to innovate and grow demand within existing taxi regulations.
His comments came as the company announced it had carried over 20 million passengers in Ireland since its launch here four years ago.
In 2015, the company carried out five million journeys, carrying 45,000 passengers a day.
