"In a context of decarbonisation, the worst that can happen is that a vehicle is driving and only releasing emissions through its exhaust pipe," he told a hearing of parliament’s committee on economy, innovation and public works.

According to the minister, in adjoining municipalities it should be possible for a taxi to return with passengers rather than empty, as they are currently obliged to.

"It is really important that in the next parliament an attempt is made, as far as possible, to put an end to municipal quotas in metropolitan areas," he said.

Matos Fernandes said that the government "has done everything [it could] during this parliament" to modernise the sector, arguing that associations representing taxi drivers had not been very open to change, but that “everything that generated consensus was considered". The dialogue continues, he added.

“Whatever there is to be done we are ready to keep doing," he said, while calling attention to the fact that to a great extent matters are "is in the hands of the municipalities”.