KENNY WELCOMES NEW TAXI LIVERY

Posted on October 3, 2012 3:24 PM   |   Permanent Link   

Seán Kenny, the Dublin Bay North Labour T.D., and member of the Oireachtas Transport Committee, has welcomed the new taxi branding signage which will be phased in to Ireland's taxi fleet from January of next year.

"The branding has been developed by the National Transport Authority and will see semi-permanent decal 'Taxi' signage affixed to the driver and passenger doors of each car. The move is intended to encourage greater professionalism and accountability within the taxi sector.

"New York has yellow taxis, London has the famous black cabs. These approaches would be far too expensive for Irish taxi drivers, but to ensure the people who operate in the sector are accountable for their vehicles, we have opted for semi-permanent branding for taxis. The branding will contain the individual vehicle licence number associated with a particular vehicle, and it will also carry the 'Transport for Ireland' logo, further aligning taxis with other public transport services.

"I think that this is a very significant reform and will encourage a more professional approach to the taxi sector. I want the taxi industry to be operated by those who are committed and accountable. It will make it harder for rogue drivers to continue operating in the sector if this is the case.

"I understand that the branding will be phased in from January, whereby taxi vehicles will need to be fitted with the official signage in order to renew the vehicle licence. The National Transport Authority will initiate a process of licensing official suppliers to carry out this work. By licensing official suppliers to print and fit the branding, there will be competition in the market place and taxi drivers will be able to shop around and achieve the lowest possible price for operators.

"I also welcome the Taxi Regulation Act which Minister Kelly intends to publish before the end of the year as part of the taxi sector review. A number of actions from the taxi review report are set to be implemented in January by the National Transport Authority, including a new online system that will link the driver with the vehicle they are using allowing passengers to check the appropriate driver is in the vehicle.

"There will also be new age limits for vehicles and a prohibition on 'Taxi Plate Only' rental. As well as that, there will be a link between the small public service vehicle licence with the vehicle owner, and an ending of the transferability of taxi vehicle licences, reducing the inactive licence period.

"I want to pay tribute to Minister Alan Kelly for doing such major work on reforming the Taxi industry. This sort of reform has been needed for a long time and it is great to see it finally happening."