NORTHERN IRELAND.

New rules are to be announced that will allow all taxis in Belfast to stop on the street and pick fares.

Environment Minister Mark H Durkan is expected to announce the new measures in the Assembly today, along with details of the timetable for the introduction of changes to the taxi licensing regime.

The changes are due to come into play in January next year.

Belfast’s taxi regime is one of the longest-running sagas to come under the Environment Minister's remit and has prompted heated debates, pitting private hire firms against public hire drivers who are permitted to ply for trade on the street.

Outside Belfast, all taxi drivers are allowed to pick up fares on the street, instead of having to wait for telephone bookings, as private hire drivers in the city have to do.

The current regulations, which have been described as “archaic” by the minister, were due to be replaced with new rules introduced as part of the Taxis Act in 2008.

These were promoted as raising standards, improving compliance, promoting road safety, reduce illegality, improving accessibility and allowing fairer competition, but only parts of the act have been implemented in the six years since it was brought in.

The rule changes also include new driver testing and training measures and taxi meters.

The introduction of the single-tier licensing system has undergone a series of delays and is opposed by Belfast public hire drivers who have mounted protests.

They said the one-tier system and deregulation of taxi meters had no benefit to Belfast public hire or the general public, insisting the rule change puts their livelihood at stake.

But supporters of the changes say they will tackle the problem of a shortage of taxis that can pick up fares during peak periods, meeting demand and ensuring public order.

The Department of the Environment has said it will introduce a maximum fare structure for all taxis operating here.

Former Environment Minister Alex Attwood said last year that taxi law and practice needed to be reformed and upgraded to deal with illegal operators, to improve business opportunities for all drivers, and to ensure the best service for customers and increasing number of tourists.

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