U-turn on rule requiring taxis to be less than nine years old

THE RULE introduced by the Taxi Regulator that required taxis to be less than nine years old has been scrapped less than two months after it came into force.

The move follows a legal challenge by taxi drivers and recent meetings between the National Transport Authority, driver representatives and the Minister for Transport.

Under the rule, from January 1st this year, a taxi driver seeking to renew the licence on his car had to have a vehicle which was less than nine years old.

Approximately 6,500 of the 23,000 taxi and hackneys in the State would have had to be replaced this year.

Drivers had complained the new rule meant well-kept vehicles would be taken off the road without good reason. They had also said they were struggling to secure finance for replacement vehicles.

In a statement yesterday the authority, which took over the functions of the regulator last month, said its board decided to revoke the rule for anyone renewing their taxi licence in 2011 pending consultation on standards.

The decision had followed consultation with the Taxi Advisory Committee, which is made up of industry stakeholders, it said.

The revocation will apply to drivers who came into the industry before January 2009.

Taxi driver representative organisation Tiomanaí Taxi na hÉireann took a case to the High Court to challenge the rule last year. The case had been due to resume hearing tomorrow.

Frank Byrne, spokesman for the organisation, said yesterday he believed the authority’s decision was made on foot of the legal action and political pressure.

“We don’t care why this decision was made; all we know is it will bring relief to up to 6,500 drivers and their families.”

He said that as part of the consultation process with drivers the organisation would be meeting the authority at the end of the month. They would also continue with their court case to address other issues in the industry, he said.

The authority’s decision was welcomed by politicians including Minister for Transport Pat Carey and Green Party deputy Trevor Sargent.

Mr Carey said he had announced Fianna Fáil’s support for such a move as part of the party’s policy to support the taxi industry.

Mr Sargent said the new economy would prosper “only if it encourages proper resource use” involving maintaining and repairing usable tools and equipment rather than replacing them.

“This change of heart is a good step in that direction,” he said.

But Fine Gael transport spokesman Simon Coveney described the decision as a “complete U-turn” and “a desperate vote-grabbing attempt”.

Sinn Féin deputy leader and election candidate Mary Lou McDonald said it was “a temporary stay of a bad decision”.

“This announcement on the eve of an election can be viewed as nothing more than a political stroke by the exiting Fianna Fáil Government,” she said.