Minister Dermot Ahern responds to Finian on criminals infiltrating the Taxi Business
Wednesday, 24 June 2009 00:00
Dear Finian,

I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 143 of 21 May, 2009 regarding if I will support a matter regarding concerns about criminals infiltrating the taxi business and what is being done.

As you may recall, the information you requested could not be obtained in the time available, and i undertook to contact you again when the information was to hand.

The Garda Commisioner has overall responsibility for the issuing of small public service vehicle licenses. I am informed by the garda authorities that when an application for the grant of a licence to drive a small public service vehicle is made, the Garda Commissioner will grant the licence only if he is satisfied that the applicant:

is a fit and proper person to hold a licence to drive a small public service vehicle;
has an adequate knowledge of the area s/he proposes to operate and including the requisite knowledge pertaining to traffic, small public service vehicle and parking regulations;
has not been convicted of an offence which is in the opinion of the Garda Commisioner, would render him/her unsuitable to hold a licence to drive a small public service vehicle;
in the case of an applicant who is not the holder of a valid current licence to drive a small public service vehicle, holds at the time of the application a driving licence without endorsement.

If an applicant has any convictions which are deemed to make him/her unsuitable and therefore the intention is to refuse the application, the applicant will be afforded the opportunity to discuss his/her suitability based on these convictions, before a final decision is made to grant or refuse the application.

I am further informed that any complaint in relation to infringements of the small public service vehicle licence are dealt with by An Garda Síochána. Members of the public who experience problems with standards in the taxi industry may make their complaint to any member of An Garda Síochána or in any Garda station.

Yours sincerely.

Dermot Ahern T.D.
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform