Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)

I announced the taxi regulation review on 8 June 2011 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 would like to take the opportunity to thank all those who made submissions to the review group and who participated in the group. I was heartened by the constructive contributions of the 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 that 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 that legitimate and competent operators and drivers can be rewarded fairly by operating under a regulatory framework that is adequately enforced.

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