Taxi Bill doesn’t do enough to help struggling industry – Ellis

Sinn Fein transport spokesperson, Dessie Ellis TD, has said that while a focus on the problems facing the Taxi industry is welcome the proposed Taxi Regulation Bill offers very little to help struggling taxi drivers or give better service to the public. He made his comments as the Dáil prepares to the debate the Bill which resulted from the recommendations of a review group setup in 2011. He made his comments as the Dáil is set to debate the bill in question this week.
Deputy Ellis said:
“The Minister it would seem has chosen to focus his attention more on the headline grabbing red herrings rather than proposing real reform or sufficient regulation to ensure s sustainable industry where operators can make a decent living.
Criminal behaviour in the taxi industry should be stamped out but it is not the major problem as the Minister would lead us to believe. This Bill does nothing to help ordinary law abiding taxi drivers.
This is a missed opportunity to address the oversupply in the industry, to provide an independent appeals process and improve and consultation and accountability.
Sinn Fein made submissions to the Minister in the run up to the drafting of this Bill which he chose to ignore as he has chosen to ignored the needs of industry and its members.”