Vol. 568 No. 6
101 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Transport when the planned national taxi advisory council will be established; the proposed role and membership of the council; when the term of office of the interim taxi regulator expires; if it is intended to extend his term of office; the recommendations he has received from the interim taxi regulator; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16885/03]
On 19 November 2002 the Government approved the establishment of the Office of the National Taxi Regulator and a Taxi Advisory Commission, initially on a non-statutory basis, pending the development of legislative proposals. I have yesterday secured the agreement of the Government to proceed with the presentation of the Taxi Regulation Bill 2003 to the Houses of the Oireachtas. This Bill provides for the establishment of a commission for taxi regulation and an advisory council to the commission.
It is envisaged that the proposed advisory council will advise the commission for taxi regulation and me, as Minister for Transport, as appropriate, on issues relevant to small public service vehicles and their drivers. The membership of the advisory council will be drawn from representatives of the taxi, hackney and limousine industry, local authorities, the Garda Síochána, consumer, disability, tourism and business interests, and other relevant sectors.
I am anxious to proceed with the appointment of an advisory council as soon as possible and in this regard I hope to be in a position to appoint the advisory council in the near future.
I appointed Mr. Jimmy Farrelly as interim chairman of the commission for taxi regulation in February 2003 pending the recruitment of a statutory chairman. An initial period of six months was envisaged following which the situation will be reviewed having regard to progress with the appointment of a statutory commissioner for taxi regulation.
