Under the Taxi Regulation Act, 2003, the Commission for Taxi Regulation is the independent public body responsible for the development and maintenance of the regulatory framework for the control and operation, including licensing, of taxis, hackneys, limousines and their drivers. However, the Commission does not have any remit or statutory power under the Taxi Regulation Act in relation to the control of the number of licences issued.
My Department has received a copy of the opinion of the Senior Counsel on taxi deregulation referred to by the Deputy. The proposals contained in the Senior Counsel's Opinion are being examined by my Department's legal advisors. I am expecting to receive shortly from the Commission of Taxi Regulation the economic review into small public service vehicles sector it has commissioned, together with the views of the Oireachtas Committee on Transport in that regard. When the Commission's review and deliberation of the Oireachtas Committee are completed and published, I will consider any recommendations relevant to my statutory obligations.
