Commission for Taxi Regulation

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The Commission for Taxi Regulation (sometimes called the Taxi Regulator is an agency of the government of the Republic of Ireland which regulates small public service vehicles (SPSVs) (the generic term for taxis, wheelchair accessible taxis, hackneys and limousines). Taxis and wheelchair-accessible taxis are allowed to pick up passengers in the street or at a stand and have their fares calculated by a meter; hackneys and limousines do not use meters and are not permitted to pick up passengers in the street or at a stand.

The Commission sets a single maximum fare structure for taxis for all places in the Republic of Ireland, although drivers are allowed to offer discounts and customers are permitted to give tips to drivers.

The Commission is headed by Kathleen Doyle, the Commissioner for Taxi Regulation.[1] She was appointed commissioner in 2007.

The first Commissioner, Ger Deering, was appointed in 2004. He had previously been Assistant County Manager at Carlow County Council. In 2007, he left the Commission and was appointed as director of the National Employment Rights Authority.[2]

Prior to the creation of the Commission, taxi licence fees were paid to local authorities, but are now paid to the Commission.[3]

The Commission has been criticized for issuing more taxi licences than some drivers consider appropriate.[4]

Its commissioner has appeared before a joint committee of the Oireachtas (parliament) of Ireland to discuss the work of the Commission.[5]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Labanyi, David. "Taxi commission to take over licensing role", Irish Times, Wednesday, September 26, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-05-01. 
  2. ^ "National taxi regulator is appointed", RTÉ News. Retrieved on 2008-05-01. 
  3. ^ McCárthaigh, Seán. "Councils to lose funding over taxi regulator", Irish Examiner, Tuesday, November 18, 2003 :. Retrieved on 2008-05-01. 
  4. ^ Taylor, Charlie. "Taxi protests likely to spread - union", ireland.com, 25 April 2008 13:37. Retrieved on 2008-05-01. 
  5. ^ Oireachtas – Parliamentary Debates (Official Report - Unrevised) Joint Committee on Economic Regulatory Affairs. Tuesday, 4 March 2008. Discussion with Commission for Taxi Regulation.

[edit] External links