Helping the Taxi Industry

23rd July, 2009

Attended a meeting of the Oireachtas Transport Committee this morning. Our job was to agree recommendations to improve the quality of the taxi industry. I have had strong reservations about whether a moratorium on the granting of licenses is appropriate. I grudgingly supported one this morning as I think it is is necessary to provide the space for better regulations to kick in. Other measures that were agreed included making sure that the Gardai are the key people for implementing laws in relation to taxi quality, reducing the ability of current taxi plate owners to sell or hire them out and increasing the quality of the entry test into the industry.

It’s up to the Minister as to what he wants to do but we have had our say now.