FROM A drought to a deluge . . . that has been the experience of taxi customers during the past 12 years. There was a time in the late 1990s when you stood in the rain for hours in the hope that a taxi might appear with its sign lit up. Now, taxis for hire are likely to pass every few minutes. Competition for fares is fierce as a result of deregulation and industry representatives industry complain it has become impossible for law-abiding drivers to make a living. There are concerns that criminals have become involved in the business.
Responding to these issues, the Government has announced the establishment of a review that will explore all aspects of taxi regulation in Ireland and pay particular attention to criminal activity involving licence holders who run two cars with the same licence plate or use fraudulent documentation. Review group chairman Minister of State Alan Kelly has pledged to “take criminals out of the industry” and he indicated that Attorney General Máire Whelan will advise on how best to prevent people with certain criminal convictions from operating a taxi. The ultimate aim is to provide a safe and effective service for the public.
Shortly before leaving office, the last government dissolved the office of taxi regulator and transferred its powers to the National Transport Authority (NTA). At that time, a surplus of €20 million had been accumulated through licence fees and fines. Some of that money will be used by the NTA to encourage the purchase of wheelchair-accessible taxis but envious eyes are being cast on the balance of the fund. If possible, that money should be used to improve the quality of service and of inspection within the industry.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny has spoken of seeing large numbers of drivers pulling out of late-night taxi ranks to avoid inspection because they were probably breaking the law. There is no doubt that deregulation has brought more “cowboys” into the business. But in the days of controlled licences, when taxi plates changed hands for huge sums and the public was badly served, the black economy and tax evasion were also a feature of the trade.
There does appear to be an over-supply of taxis. But that may reflect a poorly structured licensing system. A review designed to update the regulation of taxis and ensure the service is accepted as a key component of the public transport system is a welcome development. But there can be no return to the anti-competitive, closed shop of the 1990s.