Pat Rabbitte
Question:85 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Transport when he last met the FAIR group to discuss problems in the taxi industry; when he next expects to meet them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16887/03]
Written Answers. - Taxi Industry.
I have met representatives from FAIR on a number of occasions, most recently on 16 June 2003. I have explained to FAIR that the Government has approved the implementation on a phased basis of the recommendations of the taxi hardship panel which was the independent three person panel established to report in general terms on the nature and extent of extreme personal financial hardship that may have been experienced by individual taxi licence holders arising from loss of income as a direct result of the liberalisation of the taxi market.
I have also explained that, based on legal precedent, there can be no legal duty on the State to compensate taxi licence holders in relation to open market licence values that may have existed prior to liberalisation. I have assured the representatives of FAIR that the design and administration of a scheme to implement the recommendations of the taxi hardship panel and the arrangements to facilitate the making of payments to eligible persons is being progressed as quickly as possible so as to ensure that applications are dealt with on a confidential and objective basis. Every effort is being made to put in place a structure to facilitate the commencement of payments on the basis of the panel recommendations as soon as possible.