Minister of State for Transport Alan Kelly has announced the membership of a committee that will review all aspects of regulation in the taxi industry.
The taxi review group was first announced last month after a television documentary highlighted what Mr Kelly described as “unacceptable practices” in the sector.
Mr Kelly, who will chair the group, said today every effort must be made to improve standards and give fair competition to those operating within the taxi sector. “We also have to make the public feel safe using taxis.”
The group will report back within four months. It is expected to make specific recommendations on licensing, enforcement, vehicle standards, supply issues in rural and urban areas and safe driver working hours.
Speaking last month following the Prime Time Investigates programme on RTÉ, Mr Kelly pledged to eliminate fraud and illegal activity so that "the majority of taxi drivers who do their jobs properly are not competing with rogue elements in the sector".
He said the initiative had the full support of the Government and was a priority for completion.
The other members of the group are:
- Pat Byrne (vice chairman and current chair of Taxi Advisory Committee)
- John Murphy, assistant secretary, Department of Transport
- Brendan Callaghan, principal officer, Department of Justice
- John Evans of the Competition Authority
- Chief Superintendent Gabriel McIntyre, National Traffic Corps, An Garda Síochána
- Superintendent Declan Brogan, Carriage Office, An Garda Síochána
- Derek McGovern, taxi dispatch operator
- Christy Humphreys, member of the Joint Taxi Council
- Kevin Finn, taxi driver
- Siobhán Barron, director, National Disability Authority
- Renee Dempsey, chief executive of the Equality Authority
- Kathleen Doyle, director of Taxi Regulation, National Transport Authority
- Tim O’Sullivan, executive manager, Roads & Traffic Department, Dublin City Council
- James Doorley, former chair of Consumer Association of Ireland and member of National Youth Council
- Seamus Boland, chief executive of Irish Rural Link.
Submissions may be send to the Taxi Review Secretariat, Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leeson Lane, Dublin 2, or emailed to taxiregulationreview@dttas.ie
The closing date is July 27th.