I don't think we can ever consider the pandemic to be over, MfH. Surely we should be thinking in terms of "the new normal" so it's difficult to argue that there is any place for taxis going forward. Given the concerns expressed by drivers and company bosses Govt must focus on transition to safer, healthier, environmentally friendlier alternatives.
In my experience the appetite for social distancing has largely eroded, JIT. HSE's main social distancing recommendation is to avoid crowds. We've all seen the queues for cabs at pub closing time and most of us have been in crowded bars and shops so that one's out the window. Similarly, physical distancing only seems to apply to point of entry as far as retail outlets are concerned. Mask wearing hasn't caught on either, I'd say less than 7% of shoppers are wearing them and I have honestly only seen one person wearing a mask in a bar... and he took it off to smoke.