Watershed legislation to reform and improve standards in the 'jungle'-like taxi industry, was introduced in the Dáil by the Minister for Transport who said it marked an "act of completion" on the controversial issuing of taxi numbers.
Mr Brennan, who described as industry as a 'jungle' when he took up office, said the Taxi Regulation Bill would not allow for the re-introduction of controls on the number of taxis, which increased from 3,934 when the industry was deregulated in November 2000, to more than 11,600 at the end of March this year.
But, he said, "it places a clear premium on the application of quality considerations" to taxi, limousine and hackney services. "There can be no question of compensation being paid", but the Government accepted that the decision to liberalise the system caused hardship for certain people, he added.
Any payments recommended by the independent panel set up to deal with those difficulties "will not represent compensation but rather compassionate payments in respect of extreme personal financial hardship". These included six categories and the arrangements to facilitate payments, was "being progressed as quickly as possible".
The Opposition broadly welcomed the legislation, believed it would address the demands of the industry, but complained that it was "long overdue".
Labour's transport spokeswoman, Ms Roisin Shortall, said her only complaint about the comprehensive Bill was that it was two-and-a-half years late and a "jungle has been created" largely of the Government's making, which meant there was "quite a mess" that had to be sorted out. The legislation was an attempt to "shut the stable door after the horse has bolted", she said.
The Bill, which replaces more than 40 years of regulation in the industry, creates a powerful Taxi Commission, whose independence the Minister stressed.
He also pointed out there would be a "clear focus" on quality standards for the industry and its drivers. But the Bill also establishes rules for passengers in terms of fares and "general behaviour".
The Commission will regulate, licence and control the future development of the taxi, hackney and limousine services.
It will also control, grant or refuse licences, set altimeter areas, fix fares, create a register of licences and drivers, as well as suspending or revoking licences.
The Bill also includes provision for mandatory automatic disqualification from holding a taxi, hackney or limousine licence for convictions on a range of serious offences.
In a bid to provide greater "reassurance to the travelling public that those who are engaged" in the industry "can be trusted and in whose care passengers feel safe", the legislation also sets the parameters of offences for which licences will be refused or revoked. In the case of serious offences, a person can re-apply for a licence after a minimum period of 10 years.
It will make tax clearance obligatory for holders or applicants for public service vehicle licences, and the creation of a "formidable system of penalties" to be imposed by the courts or fixed penalties for non-court offences.
Mr Denis Naughten (FG, Longford-Roscommon) welcoming the powers for the Taxi Commission, said it would only be effective if it could withdraw licences.
He pointed to complaints about the industry and the increase since the year 2000 when there were 220 complaints, compared to 509 the following year, some 540 last year and the 217 complaints already made this year. The debate continues today.
