Kenny urges action on taxi industry

THE TERMS of reference of the commission reviewing the taxi industry were expected to be available within the next three weeks, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said.

“It will possibly be given a remit of two or three months in which to report,’’ he added.

Mr Kenny said that having arrived in Dublin from Mayo late at night on umpteen occasions, he had noticed lines of taxis in particular areas.

“If a regulatory official or garda starts checking the taxis in these lines, one notices 15, 20 or 30 pull out from the line because they know they are not in compliance with the law,’’ he added.

“We must change this and make it easier for those who are perfectly legitimate to earn a living from the work they do in an exemplary fashion.’’

The Taoiseach was replying to Joe Higgins (Socialist Party) who said Monday night’s RTÉ special Prime Time programme on the taxi industry had highlighted a number of shocking incidents of dangerous practices by a minority involved on the supply side of the industry.

While he commended reporter Paul Maguire and RTÉ’s public service remit, he expressed regret that an extremely serious pressing human problem in the industry was not considered.

“The extreme liberalisation of the taxi industry, imposed by the Fianna Fáil and PD government, has resulted in thousands of taxi drivers being under desperate economic pressure,’’ Mr Higgins added. “Simply put, they cannot make a decent living.’’

Unfortunately and tragically, he said, within the past two years a number of taxi drivers had taken their own lives.

Mr Kenny said he had been a frequent user of taxis before becoming Taoiseach, and drivers had spoken at length to him about their difficulties.

“On many occasions, they pointed out to me that after doing 14 or 15 hours, they might have €50 for the day; others might be a little luckier,’’ he said.