Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 99: To ask the Minister for Transport if, in the powers delegated to the taxi regulator, it was understood that taxi driving would be a sustainable livelihood; if further such a livelihood was envisaged as being a full-time occupation for the majority of taxi drivers; and if it was envisaged that training in the skills necessary for a full-time occupation would be provided. [16809/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The Commission for Taxi Regulation was established under the Taxi Regulation Act 2003 and is the independent public body responsible for the development and maintenance of the regulatory framework for the control and operation of small public service vehicles, taxis, hackneys and limousines, and their drivers. In exercising its principal function, the Commission is guided by a range of objectives outlined in section 9 of the 2003 Act. In addition, under the Act, the Commission has specific regulatory powers in relation to a range of issues including issues of quality and level of service, driver knowledge, training and entry requirements for licence applicants generally. It is a matter for the Commission to decide the most appropriate manner in which to exercise its various regulatory powers under the Act. I understand from the Commission that it proposes to undertake an economic review of the small public service vehicle industry later in 2008.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for Transport the results of a visit by an investigative group from the European Parliament some time ago which examined the impact and consequences of deregulation in the Irish case. [16810/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The EU Committee on Petitions carried out a fact-finding mission in Ireland on 3 and 4 April 2003 in connection with the effects of taxi liberalisation. The then Minister for Transport met with the delegation from the Committee on 4 April 2003 and outlined the background to taxi liberalisation and the establishment of the Taxi Hardship Panel to them. It was also explained that based on legal precedent there can be no legal duty on the State to compensate taxi licence holders in relation to open market licence values that may have existed prior to liberalisation.

The EU Committee on Petitions did not provide any detailed analysis or study of the taxi situation in Ireland post-liberalisation but it made three recommendations arising from this fact-finding visit. The Committee recommended that:

1. The proposals of the Taxi Hardship Panel should be reviewed by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and by the Minister for Transport in the light of the Petitions Committee report findings, and new proposals made to Government;

2. Urgent consideration be given to providing redress to the families involved on a case by case basis which pays due respect to their individual rights and which relates to, and recognises, the full costs involved in the acquisition and payment of a taxi licence prior to November 2000;

3. The Commission for Taxi Regulation be established without further delay to uphold and safeguard the proper standards and licensing of taxis in the context of an integrated public transport system.

The Petitions Committee was advised of subsequent developments, including the establishment of the Taxi Hardship Payments Scheme. The Department also reiterated its position that there are no proposals for an independent review of the Taxi Hardship Panel Report and its findings, no proposals for hardship payments above those recommended by the Taxi Hardship Panel, and no proposals to re-open the terms of the Panel Report, the Taxi Hardship Payments Scheme, or the Government's decision in relation to the matter. In this regard, it might be noted that hardship payments totalling €17,449,000 were paid between December 2003 and September 2005 in respect of 1,517 qualifying persons under the Taxi Hardship Payments Scheme.

With regard to the third recommendation of the EU Committee Report, the Petitions Committee was also informed of the enactment of the Taxi Regulation Act 2003 which provided for the establishment of the independent Commission for Taxi Regulation and the Advisory Council to the Commission for Taxi Regulation.