Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 113: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has received and reviewed the recent legal opinion (details supplied) prepared for the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport on the taxi sector and the possibility of introducing a cap or moratorium on the issuing of taxi licences; his views on the legal opinion; the deadline for the submission of the report by the Taxi Regulator on the taxi industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46339/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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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. In response I wish to say that I have no proposals to introduce quantitative restrictions on entry to the taxi market. I do support, however, the application of standards of a qualitative nature, which are determined by the Commission. The proposed new standards for the taxi industry were published in November 2007 and I understand they will be introduced on a phased basis from next month and will be fully rolled out by 2012.

In addition, the Commission has appointed consultants to undertake an extensive economic review of the small public service vehicle sector. I understand that the review will be completed early in the New Year.