Taxi trade a jungle, says Brennan

TRANSPORT Minister Seamus Brennan admitted yesterday the taxi trade was a “jungle” that needed to be brought under control urgently.

Mr Brennan made the comments as he announced the temporary appointment of a regulator for the industry who will set new standards for all 12,000 taxi drivers.

Concerns over safety standards for taxis has escalated following a number of violent incidents involving drivers, including the alleged rape of three women last month.

The move to regulate the trade has the support of the National Taxi Drivers’ Union, which says there has been a general decline in the suitability of holders of taxi licences since deregulation.

But SIPTU, which represents a smaller number of drivers, says it will continue its protests because the regulator will not be able to limit the number of new taxi licences.

Jim Farrelly, a former director general of the Department of the Environment, will take up the role as head of the Commission for Taxi Regulation. The commission will be responsible for enforcing standards across all taxis, hackneys and limousines.

Mr Farrelly will also issue recommendations to Mr Brennan over a wide range of issues including a single colour for taxis, a dress code for drivers and an age limit for cabs.

However, the temporary nature of the commission, which is due to be placed on a statutory footing later in the year, has drawn criticism from opposition parties and unions.

Fine Gael’s transport spokesman Denis Naughten TD said the move was a small step in the right direction but was worthless without statutory regulation.

SIPTU president Des Geraghty said the new regulator needed more powers to ensure the trade was not swamped by even more new drivers.

“Drivers need assurances that they will be able to continue to make a decent living from providing a much needed service in a safe environment,” he said.

The regulator will also be asked how to implement the findings of the taxi hardship panel, directed at drivers affected by the deregulation of the industry two years ago. The panel said a 15m fund should be made available for hardship cases.