How the Commission for Taxi Regulation makes its decisions
In February 2005 the Commission for Taxi Regulation published its first consultation paper and conducted a national review of services (pdf file) and vehicle standards (pdf file) in Irish taxis, hackney and limousines. The services review was carried out on behalf of the Commission for Taxi Regulation by Goodbody Economic Consultants and the vehicle review by the Dublin Institute of Technology. Both these reviews involved widespread research and a consultation process which included public meetings throughout the country, face-to-face meetings with a range of stakeholders, substantial input from the Advisory Council and diligent consideration of all submissions.
The review provided the Commission for Taxi Regulation with a national baseline to assist in measuring future progress. It also assisted in determining where new regulations were required or existing regulations required amendment. In addition, it identified where new or improved administrative or enforcement procedures were necessary.
In response to the National Review, the Commission for Taxi Regulation published its second consultation document Roadmap (pdf file) – towards a new code of regulation for taxis, hackneys and limousines in Ireland. This set out the issues and areas where the Commission for Taxi Regulation believed change was required and explained the need for such change. The document also outlined the Commission for Taxi Regulation’s proposed solutions. Almost 15,000 copies of the Roadmap document were distributed to drivers, operators, consumers, local authorities, public representatives and a range of stakeholders throughout the country. In addition, over 3,000 copies have been downloaded from the Commission for Taxi Regulation’s website. The Commission for Taxi Regulation received valuable feedback from the Advisory Council as well as a very broad range of stakeholders.
On the 26th September 2005, the Minister for Transport greatly extended the remit of the Commission for Taxi Regulation by commencing virtually the entire 2003 Act. This further enabled and empowered the Commission for Taxi Regulation to carry out the fundamental reforms required across a broad range of areas to improve the quality of service for SPSV users and service providers.
The Commission for Taxi Regulation published its third consultation paper (pdf file) in October 2005 which specifically dealt with taximeter areas and taxi fares, with a closing date for submissions of 19th December 2005.
The Commission for Taxi Regulation received over 400 submissions in response to the consultations outlined above. Very many valued and worthwhile suggestions and requests were put forward during this process. While it was not possible to accommodate all of these, it is important to note that the Action Plan ‘Driving Forward’ (pdf file) was greatly influenced by the various inputs and endeavours to strike a fair balance between consumer and service supplier needs and wants and the associated direct and indirect costs.
The public consultation ultimately resulted in the publication of ‘Driving Forward’, Action Plan 2006-2007 (pdf file). It was the subject of the most extensive consultation process ever undertaken in the history of the SPSV business in Ireland and included the first major national review of services and vehicle standards ever undertaken in Ireland. This Action Plan outlined fundamental reforms across a broad range of areas to improve the quality of the service and assist service providers in the delivery of quality services. These reforms commenced on a phased basis and continue until 2009 and beyond.
View copies of all public consultation documents and publications issued by the Commission for Taxi Regulation.