Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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The Commission for Taxi Regulation published "Driving Forward: Action Plan 2006-2007" on Tuesday, 7 March. I welcome its publication and, as a regular user of the taxi service in this city, I agree with many of its recommendations. Nevertheless, it should be regarded as a consultation document rather than the final proposal and the implementation of any of its provisions should be deferred for at least six months. I say this because of the apparent lack of widespread consultation with all elements of the taxi industry nationwide.

I attended a meeting of the Tralee Taxi Association on Monday, 13 March. The association is a very responsible body. Just before Christmas, its representatives met the Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform regarding anti-social behaviour in Tralee. The association strikes me as the only body doing anything about anti-social behaviour in Tralee. It tries to work with the local gardaí and local council and is genuinely concerned about anti-social behaviour in the town. I was very impressed with the association's presentation to the Minister of State and I therefore take its views and concerns very seriously.

I will reflect the mood of the meeting. The delegates were astounded by the complete lack of thought and consideration for the taxi industry in Tralee and generally in rural Ireland. While the delegates accepted that certain aspects of the document were positive and a step in the right direction, such as the reference to the appointment of the NCT centres to administer the SPSV licences on the commission's behalf, they strongly believed that most aspects of the document are unworkable in a rural environment. They took issue with vehicle licensing, for example. Up to now, the licensing of a vehicle to operate as a taxi, hackney or limousine has been carried out by the relevant local authority on production of the appropriate documentation. The licensing numbers are local numbers with distinctive lettering and the area of operation is displayed clearly on all signs. Under the new proposals, the commission plans to introduce a new national licensing system. In accordance with these proposals, each SPSV licence holder will be issued with a new five-digit national number in respect of each licence granted or renewed. This will, in effect, eliminate the recognised and familiar SPSV licence numbers. The new proposals make no provision to inform the public on areas of operation, either in respect of the interior or exterior of the vehicle. The new proposals will make local taxis difficult to distinguish in the eyes of the public.

The association also takes issue with the national taxi meter area. At present, there are 36 designated taxi meter areas country-wide and areas of operation are clearly defined by the local authorities. In the case of Tralee, for example, a designated three-mile radius from the town centre constitutes the taxi meter area. The benefits of this system are such that drivers are clearly aware of their area of operation and policing of this system is easier. The commission proposes to declare the whole country a taxi meter area in September 2006 and this will eliminate the existing 36 designated taxi meter areas. The commission proposes to restrict taxis plying for hire in the area for which their licences are endorsed. This means SPSV drivers' licences endorsed in County Kerry will be permitted to operate freely within the county boundaries.

Séamus Pattison (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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The Deputy should conclude.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Furthermore, drivers who engage in the proposed skill development programme in other counties or cities will also be permitted to ply for hire in these areas. This, in the opinion of Tralee Taxi Association, is a recipe for chaos and bedlam. Enforcement and policing of this process will surely be impossible and will certainly create another headache for an already overworked police force.

Séamus Pattison (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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The Deputy should conclude.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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From September, taxis will be freely and legally allowed to operate in busy and more lucrative areas, as they wish. This will spawn hostility and suspicion among operators and cause a reduction in the level of service provided in quieter rural areas. It will definitely lead to confusion and a decline in public confidence in the entire taxi service.

Séamus Pattison (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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I call the Minister of State to reply.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Finally, could I——

Séamus Pattison (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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The Deputy has exceeded the time allowed.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Could I just finish tonight? One Member left this House tonight because the Minister who was supposed to reply to the issue he was to raise was not present. I have stayed in the House and I at least deserve the courtesy of being allowed to finish.

Séamus Pattison (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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The Standing Order only allows the Deputy five minutes and he has now spoken for six.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Absolutely. I have been allowed to finish in the past by the Ceann Comhairle. It is 11.10 p.m.

Séamus Pattison (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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We must abide by Standing Orders. The Deputy should——

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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I should at least be allowed to conclude speaking on this very important issue.

Séamus Pattison (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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It is not possible to conclude if one exceeds the five minutes allowed. We cannot make a new rule for the Deputy and have others for other Members. I call the Minister of State.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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I now see why Deputy Walsh left the House.

Séamus Pattison (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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The Deputy is out of order.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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It is becoming a total farce and I will make that complaint directly to the office of the Ceann Comhairle.

Séamus Pattison (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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The Chair cannot make a special rule for the Deputy. The Deputy must do what all other Deputies do, that is, speak within the five minutes allowed.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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I have been here in the past and the Chair was flexible.

Séamus Pattison (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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I gave the Deputy an extra minute.

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am replying to this matter on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, and I thank Deputy Deenihan for raising it.

The Commission for Taxi Regulation was established under the Taxi Regulation Act 2003, with effect from 1 September 2004, and it is the independent body responsible for the development and maintenance of a new statutory framework for the control and operation of small public service vehicles, taxis, hackneys and limousines, and their drivers, under the 2003 Act. The commission is an independent regulator.

In 2005 the commission initiated a broad consultation process and a national review to assess the extent and quality of services currently provided by small public service vehicles and to examine existing quality and safety regulations regarding small public service vehicles and their drivers. The review was undertaken on behalf of the commission by Goodbody Economic Consultants and the Dublin Institute of Technology and it included consultation with relevant stakeholders and significant data collection and analysis. The commission advertised in the national press inviting written submissions by 7 March 2005 and, as part of the national public consultation, arranged a number of public meetings in Cork, Clonmel, Sligo and Dublin, which meetings took place in late February and early March 2005.

Face-to-face meetings were held with a range of stakeholders and it is understood that some 130 submissions were received in response to the public consultation process. There was also input from the advisory council to the Commission for Taxi Regulation, which was established under the Taxi Regulation Act 2003 to advise the Commission for Taxi Regulation and the Minister for Transport, as appropriate, on issues relevant to small public service vehicles and their drivers. The council consists of a chairperson and 17 ordinary members, representing the taxi, hackney and limousine industry, local authorities, the Garda Síochána, consumer, disability, tourism and business interests and other relevant sectors, as required under the Act.

On completion of the process outlined, in June 2005 the commission published Consultation Paper No. 2, Roadmap — Towards a new national code of regulation for taxis, hackneys and limousines in Ireland, which set out the areas where it was considered that change is required, along with the commission's proposed solutions. Again advertisements were placed in the national press in July 2005 inviting submissions on the roadmap by 26 September 2005. Given that the commission has also taken over the power to declare or alter taximeter areas and to fix maximum taxi fares from local authorities, it published a further Consultation Paper No. 3 — Taximeter Areas and Taxi Fares in October 2005 and invited submissions by 19 December 2005, again with national press advertisements in November 2005.

The commission has indicated that it is satisfied that it has carried out a widespread research and consultation process in advance of formulating the proposals for change contained in the Action Plan 2006-2007, Driving Forward, which was published on 7 March 2006. It sees the action plan and its reforms as the culmination of a process that has seen widespread consultation with the industry, customers, a variety of experts and the advisory council to the Commission for Taxi Regulation. I understand the commission received more than 500 submissions as part of the various consultation processes.

The new regulations, administrative structures, initiatives and services to be provided by the commission, as outlined in the action plan, will be put in place on a phased basis commencing this year. I understand that the commission will launch a major awareness programme in September to ensure that consumers and service providers alike are fully informed of the new reforms.

While the new national vehicle licensing system will be phased in commencing in April 2006, the majority of the changes announced recently, such as the introduction of a national taximeter area and national taxi fare structure, will not commence until September 2006 or later. The commission has indicated that where proposed changes have implications in terms of cost or investment for service providers, especially regarding vehicle standards, appropriate lead-in times for the various actions will be given, as outlined in the action plan. I understand that a further consultation process will be undertaken by the commission regarding vehicle standards.

The commission has expressed the view that implementation of the proposed changes will bring about improved levels of service for customers which in turn will lead to an increase in the use of small public service vehicles, including taxis, and greater opportunities for service providers. I share this belief and look forward to an enhanced and improved regulatory regime into the future to the benefit of service users and providers alike.