Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 88: To ask the Minister for Transport if he reviewed recent proposals from the Joint Committee on Transport on reforming the regulation of the taxi industry including the legal opinion prepared by a person (details supplied) for the committee on the possibility of introducing a cap or moratorium on the issuing of taxi licences; if he will reform the regulation of the taxi sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5799/09]

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. The proposals contained in the Senior Counsel's Opinion are being examined by my Department's legal advisors. I am expecting to receive shortly from the Commission of Taxi Regulation the economic review into small public service vehicles sector it has commissioned, together with the views of the Oireachtas Committee on Transport in that regard. When the Commission's review and deliberation of the Oireachtas Committee are completed and published, I will consider any recommendations relevant to my statutory obligations.