Post by The Dark Knight on Jul 29, 2024 6:32:44 GMT
CCTV in taxis makes 'a lot of sense' but an NTA matter, says minister
Minister of State at the Department of Transport James Lawless has said he supports the introduction of mandatory CCTV in taxis, but that it is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) to introduce.
Speaking on RTÉ's This Week programme, Mr Lawless said that there is now greater awareness among people in relation to safety in taxis, following the recent court case in which taxi driver Raymond Shorten was sentenced to 17 years in prison for the rape of two women on separate occasions in 2022.
The Fianna Fáil TD for Kildare North noted that the representative body for taxi drivers also supports such a move.
When the public were consulted about CCTV in taxis in 2016, a significant majority - 97% - of respondents said they were not in favour of it, however Mr Lawless said that now, "the mood has changed".
With most means of public transport such as buses now using CCTV, the minister said that while taxis may be viewed as more private than a bus or train, they are "in reality a public transport space".
"People are getting into a cab with strangers," he said, adding that drivers should be vetted.
www.rte.ie/news/2024/0728/1462265-taxi-cctv-ireland/
Minister of State at the Department of Transport James Lawless has said he supports the introduction of mandatory CCTV in taxis, but that it is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) to introduce.
Speaking on RTÉ's This Week programme, Mr Lawless said that there is now greater awareness among people in relation to safety in taxis, following the recent court case in which taxi driver Raymond Shorten was sentenced to 17 years in prison for the rape of two women on separate occasions in 2022.
The Fianna Fáil TD for Kildare North noted that the representative body for taxi drivers also supports such a move.
When the public were consulted about CCTV in taxis in 2016, a significant majority - 97% - of respondents said they were not in favour of it, however Mr Lawless said that now, "the mood has changed".
With most means of public transport such as buses now using CCTV, the minister said that while taxis may be viewed as more private than a bus or train, they are "in reality a public transport space".
"People are getting into a cab with strangers," he said, adding that drivers should be vetted.
www.rte.ie/news/2024/0728/1462265-taxi-cctv-ireland/