Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)

I announced the taxi regulation review on 8 June last in line with the commitment in the programme for Government. The review group, under my chairmanship, completed its report in December last and I have circulated the report to relevant Ministers and their Departments with a view to early consideration of the outcome of the review by the Government. Once the Government has had an opportunity to consider the review, I expect to be in a position to publish it on my Department's website and to outline the Government's response to it.

I thank all those who made submissions to the review group or participated in it. I was heartened by the constructive contributions of many diverse groups with an interest in the taxi industry. The review considered a wide range of issues relating to the taxi sector, including current regulatory policy and practices, licensing systems, enforcement and future dialogue with the taxi sector. I am confident the recommended measures in the review will enable necessary further reforms of the sector to allow consumers to have confidence in the taxi system, while also ensuring legitimate and competent operators and drivers can be rewarded fairly by operating under a regulatory framework that is adequately enforced.

Amendments to primary legislation will be required to implement some of the review proposals, together with secondary legislation that will be the responsibility of the National Transport Authority. I intend to clarify the primary legislative requirements and their timetable in due course.

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