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[Article] Poor pay leaves taxis waiting for a regulator

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  • 05-01-2004 10:50pm
    #1
    Victor
    Registered Users Posts: 78,312 ✭✭✭✭


    http://home.eircom.net/content/unison/national/2297109?view=Eircomnet
    Poor pay leaves taxis waiting for a regulator
    From:The Irish Independent
    Monday, 5th January, 2004
    Gene McKenna Political Editor

    THE job of National Taxi Regulator is to be re-advertised at a higher salary because efforts to fill the post have been unsuccessful.

    Transport Minister Seamus Brennan has secured agreement from the Department of Finance to offer better terms for the job. The Civil Service Commission was unable to make a recommendation on an appointment at the initial salary offered.

    Mr Brennan said: "They asked me to offer a higher salary and that is now to be done. A longer contract will also be on offer."

    There were 17 applications for the job but the Commission could not make a recommendation at the salary offered.

    "I had hoped the regulator would be in place by now but I went ahead with the appointment of the Taxi Council and we have begun to pay out hardship money," Mr Brennan said.

    "An initial €600,000 has been paid out but the final figure will be between €13m and €15m," the minister added.

    Pending the appointment of the regulator, the Taxi Council is looking at several issues for the minister.

    One is whether there should be a maximum age for a taxi - in some cities it is either five or seven years - and another is whether there should be training for drivers, as is done in New York where the driver has to register with the taxi commission and do tests.

    The council is also examining whether taxi drivers should wear seat belts, while the issue of a single colour for taxis is also being looked at.

    For the first time, a taxi Act is now in existence and Mr Brennan believes the city is well on its way to having a fully professional taxi service.

    "There will be a shape on the industry when all the parts of the legislation are acted upon which has never been there before," he said.


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