Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason he has refused to meet the Taxi Alliance/TTNH despite their request for a meeting. [54565/12]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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The Taxi Regulation Review Report 2011 made recommendations with regard to the future system of consultation with the taxi industry. The Review Group proposed under Action 34 that taxi industry representative groups may make a referral to the Taxi Advisory Committee in relation to the introduction of industry regulations. In addition, Action 35 of the Review Report proposes that a sub-committee of the Taxi Advisory Committee will be formed to act as a forum for the taxi sector when considering issues of particular concern to the sector. I understand that a number of taxi representative bodies have already this year made presentations to the Taxi Advisory Committee and that the taxi representatives in question have recently met with the Chairman of the Taxi Advisory Committee.

Prior to the Taxi Review, I spent considerable time consulting the various taxi representative groups and gave them considerable time to hear their views. The Taxi Review Group, which I Chaired, also invited written and oral presentations to be made by the industry stakeholders and representative bodies. I believe that representation of the taxi sector is far too fragmented and this is a disadvantage in terms of the development of policy. Therefore, I support any efforts by the various representative bodies to consolidate in order to provide a broader representation of taxi drivers’ interests.

Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason students on stamp 2 visas are permitted to sit the taxi drivers exam despite their visa prohibiting them from engaging in self-employment under the terms of their visa. [54566/12]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including the operation of the testing process under the SPSV skills development programme, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the Taxi Regulation Act, 2003. I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.