Pat Rabbitte
Question:111 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Transport the steps he intends to take to ensure that taxi licences are used only for the provision of a public hire service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16886/03]
Written Answers. - Taxi Services.
Damien English
Question:118 Mr. English asked the Minister for Transport the timescale for the establishing of standards in the taxi industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16701/03]
Richard Bruton
Question:127 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Transport when he intends to publish legislation on the establishment of a statutory taxi regulator; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16680/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 111, 118 and 127 together.
The licensing and operation of taxis, hackneys and limousines, which includes the parameters of public and private hire services, are currently governed by the requirements set out in the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations 1963 to 2002 which are made under the Road Traffic Acts.
An Agreed Programme for Government sets out commitments in relation to taxi services including the appointment of a regulator for the future regulation of licensing, standards and the quality of service. On 19 November 2002 the Government approved proposals for the establishment, initially on a non-statutory basis, of an Office of National Taxi Regulator.
As indicated previously, the preparation of the necessary legislation to support the establishment of a Commission for Taxi Regulation and an advisory council has progressed as a matter of urgency in my Department. In this regard, the Taxi Regulation Bill 2003 will be published tomorrow and will then commence its passage of consideration through the Houses of the Oireachtas.
The principal function of the proposed commission will be the development and maintenance of a new regulatory framework for the control and operation of small public service vehicles and their drivers. In exercising this function the commission will pursue a range of objectives which will be focused on the promotion of quality-oriented services by all small public service vehicle operators and drivers. This will be based primarily on the deployment of new qualitative standards to be applied to the licensing and ongoing operation of small public service vehicles and their drivers that will be focused on the enhancement of customer services.