Mary Upton
Ceist:64 Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Transport when the Commission for Taxi Regulation will be incorporated into the National Transport Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12774/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 24 March 2010
Ceisteanna (9)
Freagraí ó Béal (11 píosaí cainte)
The National Transport Authority was established on 1 December last. In accordance with the provisions of the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009, the Commission for Taxi Regulation will be subsumed into the National Transport Authority, at the request of the authority, on such day as the Minister appoints by order.
Discussions are currently taking place between the National Transport Authority and the Commission for Taxi Regulation on the details of the assimilation process, such as the integration of financial and information technology processes. It is important that the assimilation takes place in a manner that ensures an effective transition to the new institutional arrangements. I expect this process will be carried out expeditiously and that the integration of the two organisations will be completed over the course of this year.
Is the Minister saying that by the end of 2010 the Commission for Taxi Regulation will be based completely within the National Transport Authority? The authority will then effectively be the regulator. I understand that according to the Bill that we put through the House, the current taxi regulator is the last such regulator.
Is the Minister aware of the considerable unease in the taxi industry at present, with many taxi workers feeling it is impossible to earn a decent living under the current conditions and the current regulator? People are going out for three or four hours and coming back with €15 in their pockets, then having to work all night in chaotic circumstances. Has the Minister met representatives of the Irish Taxi Council and, if not, is he prepared to meet them? Will he meet with other representative taxi bodies?
Will he address the major concerns of the council with the Commission for Taxi Regulation? It is concerned, for example, about the nine-year rule for cars, under which many taxi drivers will be obliged to replace fine cars that are now around nine or ten years old. In the current circumstances, they will find it difficult to get credit and pay back loans. Will the Minister ask the regulator to review this rule? Many taxi drivers have large cars with two-litre engines in fine condition which may be more than ten years old. Will he consider any of the other issues raised by taxi workers, particularly that of a moratorium on the issue of taxi plates?
Over the last couple of years I have met representatives of the Irish taxi industry — the established representative bodies which have been there for some time, some of which are unions or members of unions. They are involved in the consultative process that is currently taking place with the advisory council to the Commission for Taxi Regulation. The Advisory Council stated in a letter to me dated 16 March 2010:
The industry representative bodies which sit on the Advisory Council have fully engaged with the proper consultative processes and have played their part in progressing a number of initiatives such as the forthcoming introduction of Wheelchair Accessible licences only for taxis and hackneys, stricter rules on transferability of licences, new vehicle standards and the new Driver Skills Development Programme.
Clearly, not only is this kind of engagement the correct and proper route to take, it is also the most constructive for all parties. The Irish Taxi Council [which is the group the Deputy mentioned] ‘demanding change' whilst disrupting the general public cannot possibly be a successful route to improvement of standards.
I agree with the advisory council that the way to change any regulations with which people have a difficulty is through the consultative process and not by disrupting the general public, who have enough hassle in their lives.
I am relaying to the Minister the deep concerns I have heard from taxi workers in every part of the country — not just those represented by the Irish Taxi Council but also those represented by six or seven other bodies, including SIPTU. They all feel we need a coherent taxi service that is up to international standards and run in a different way. The continuous antagonism between taxi drivers and the regulator, as they see it, must end. We need a better service but one in which workers can earn a decent living. That is the reason people want the Minister to intervene.
It will be on the Minister's own head if there is further disruption in coming weeks, because people want to meet him to tell him about their concerns. There are almost 50,000 taxi drivers and more than 27,000 taxi plates. The situation has become chaotic and is out of control. We need a service that is well organised and also provides people with a good living.
The Deputy is not reflecting the views of the established taxi organisations on the current process. The taxi advisory council, whose letter I quoted and which represents these organisations, is satisfied with the level of engagement and accepts that things are happening and that change is taking place. It is part of the process of consultation. I accept the Deputy's point that whether people are in the Irish Taxi Council or some of the other representative bodies, they are in difficult circumstances. However, this is a result of the state of the economy, and there is no easy solution except to restore the economy.
With regard to achieving change in the taxi regulations and the implementation of recommendations made by other bodies, including the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport, the proper way to do that is not by engaging in disruptive behaviour——
They asked to meet the Minister.
I have no function in negotiating any changes.
The remit of the Minister for Transport includes public transport.
Yes, and I have appointed by law — in an Act passed by this House — the Commission for Taxi Regulation to regulate the industry. It has established extensive consultative processes that can be used by the Irish Taxi Council on an individual or collective basis, or any other way it wants, so that it does not have to disrupt traffic.
There is no harm in meeting people.
There is no way we can respond to bully-boy tactics from anybody.