Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 211: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if terms of reference have been laid down for Minister of State, Deputy Alan Kelly's, review of the taxi industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13742/11]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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Terms of reference and the overall approach to the forthcoming review of the taxi sector are close to finalisation and will be announced shortly. The review will be undertaken in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government. The review will enable necessary further qualitative 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. The review will allow for consultation with all stakeholders – despatch operators, drivers, consumers as well as regulatory and enforcement agencies.

The review will also focus on issues of compliance and enforcement, including the disturbing practices highlighted in the recent RTE "Prime Time Investigates" Programme. I envisage that the review will report within a period of 4 months on a recommended speedy programme of action to include any changes that may be appropriate to legislation, regulatory policies and practices and enforcement arrangements and deployment of resources. Following appropriate consideration of the review recommendations I will, of course, seek early Government approval of its necessary implementation including legislative changes that may be required.

I have had recent contact with various taxi representative bodies about their concerns and my proposed approach to the review. I will have full regard to the views conveyed to me in shaping the scope and approach to the review. One subject that I expect the review to consider will be how discussion between regulatory authorities and taxi providers can best be facilitated in future, taking account of the existing role and structure of the statutory Taxi Advisory Committee.