Kelly: Too many taxis on roads

Public Transport Minister Alan Kelly has said there are too many taxis on Irish roads, and that the problem could have been avoided if deregulation had been handled differently.

He said he would carry out a review of the taxi business over the next three to four months.

As well as looking at the possibility of reducing the number of taxis, the Minister wants to make sure that people with serious criminal convictions do not get a licence.

"We are seriously going to do every single thing in our power to ensure that criminals who are working in the industry, are taken out (of it)," he said.

Meanwhile, Ireland's first electric taxis have taken to the road. The two new e-taxis will be based in Dublin, as part of an initiative between the ESB and National Radio Cabs.