Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will report on the recent meeting he had with taxi driver representative and any commitment he made regarding changes to the Taxi Regulation Bill. [15054/13]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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Earlier this month I met with the Irish Taxi Forum, representing taxi driver’s interests, concerning the Taxi Regulation Bill 2012.

At the meeting the Taxi Forum raised a number of matters including an appeals process regarding decisions of the National Transport Authority, representation by the industry on the Taxi Advisory Committee, vehicle licence transfer, and the demerit scheme and penalties system - all of which I addressed and provided clarification on in the context of the Taxi Bill.  

At that meeting I indicated that I would be giving consideration to a matter raised by the Taxi Advisory Committee regarding the application of the demerit scheme under the Bill to offences involving appointed stands in light of the limited number of available taxi ranks in comparison to the supply of taxis. 

I am currently reviewing this aspect of the Bill and I hope to make an amendment in this regard at Seanad Report Stage.