Dear Sir /Madam
In relation to the current consultation process that your office is overseeing at the moment, I would like to make some observations.
1 The consultation document has a preconceived outcome, as the questions that are posed do not seek to address any of the problems being experirenced currently by taxi operators. In fact the outcome of all of these questions will impose extra costs on taxi operators with no corresponding means to recoup those costs.
2 The whole consultation process is presented in a way that almost specifically excludes or prevents the ordinary taxi operator from participating in the process, and as taxi operators are one of the most important stakeholders in the taxi industry as a whole, there should be an easier way to consult with us. We spend massive amounts of time on taxi ranks looking for work, and most of us go home so tired that we can not participate in any activity other than sleeping, and therefore to sit down and write a written submission would be the last thing any of us would be motivated to do. Writing submissions and opinions are extremely difficult for the best of us, and if you look at some of the writings by paid authors and journalists etc, you can understand how difficult a task, it is for somebody that is not trained in writing these submissions. In all community development training it is taught that official bodies insisting on written submissions is a huge barrier to the participation process. Your office should know and understand this, and should be actively promoting meaningful ways of communicating with all taxi operators. Even the online submission form is designed to limit the participation of taxi operators and would seem it is purposely designed to confuse the issues, (e.g Table 1 below:) or to elicit a specific response that can be interpreted in many different ways.
Table 1
Questions for response
1.1 Do you prefer Option One or Option Two?
1.2 Do you have any views as to the proposed April 2012 introduction date?
1.3 Do you agree that it is only reasonable that all vehicles over 9 years of age receive a 6 month licence period regardless of licence category?
1.4 Do you agree with the concept of an upper age ceiling of 14 years (at licence renewal) for all taxis and hackneys?
Answers to all of these questions, in my case (as a taxi operator), would be subject to the other questions being answered first. Option one or two are very different for taxi operators, but they are also asterisked as (“*Subject to consultation and agreement with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Road Safety Authority. “) . Maybe these options should also be subject to agreement with taxi operators.
I also can not understand, why an ordinary email would not suffice, this is clearly a barrier to participation.
3 The real problems in the Irish taxi industry today (affecting both taxi operators and passengers) will not be addressed by any of the issues under consultation.
4 This process actually presumes to know the outcome of Minister Alan Kellys current review process.
5 Most of the consultation paper is concerned with the provision of limousine services, and various other things like crew cabs and their suitability, hybrid vehicles, and new technologies etc. The only items that really affect taxi operators are the age of the car, the size of the car and branding. The blacked out windows are not really an issue.
6 The age of the car. The age of the car is open to debate, as there has been no scientific evidence put forward for consideration. Most taxi operators would suggest that the age of the car does not matter, its the mechanical condition that is important, i.e. You could have a four year old Toyota Avensis with half a million miles on the speedometer, that is mechanically defective, but that legally qualifies under the age system as it is quoted in the consultation paper, and, then you could have a Mercedes E Class car that is fourteen years old with one hundred thousand miles on the speedometer, and that is excluded. For personal safety reasons I,d rather be in the fourteen year old Mercedes instead of the four year old Toyota in these circmstances.
6 The size of the vehicles. Most taxi operators already have a vehicle that exceeds the current and the proposed specifications, so I suppose I would agree with that one as a proposal.
7 Blacked out windows. I do not think any taxi operator would agree with having blacked out windows in a taxi, this is almost dependent on what type of glass is in the vehicle when it is purchased, I do not know of any taxi that have had their glass replaced with blacked out glass, so I presume we would all agree that clear glass would be most suitable.
8 “The Authority is seeking views on introducing a form of distinctive external branding or signage on all taxis to help the consumer better identify vehicles for hire on the street. “
The consumer does not need any help in identifying vehicles for hire on the streets, the current roof sign is more than adequate for this purpose.
9 The rest of the paper is for limousines and to be perfectly honest I know nothing about this industry, so I will not comment on the proposals in the consultation paper, however I would like it if the limousine operators afforded me the same courtesy.
Heretofore the limousine industry have used their influence on the taxi advisory committees thinking, in relation to taxi operations. As they are in a completely different industry it would be more appropriate for them to declare a professional interest and then to leave the meeting, when taxis are under discussion. This is all anecdotal I know, as the minutes of the TACs meetings are private and confidential but either way when anybody is participatiing in a process such as this, it would be good practice, honest and transparent, if they were to declare any commercial or professional interest they have.
I would also like to add something which has nothing to do with your consultation paper, but, as this is being submitted to the relevant official bodies, I want to point out, that the current crisis being experienced by Irish taxi operators has been totally engineered by the agents of the Irish State. Taxi operators did not have any part in the decisions that have us where we are today, and I do not accept the taxi regulators assertions that we took part in the decisions by the participation of the so called taxi representative organisations. They are not, and never have been mandated, by the vast majority of taxi operators in this country. They are equally as guilty, as the taxi regulators office, of mismanaging the situation we find ourselves in today, where a disproportinate number of taxi drivers are commtting suicide as the financial burdens that are placed on them become to much to bear. Thats just for the record, and in my most humble opinion.
Finally and again in my most humble opinion. When you have finished with this charade that you present as meaningful consultation, maybe you could use your time to address the issues that are adversely affecting all legitimate taxi operators means of earning a living and allow us to conduct our businesses with some small level of profitability.
Your sincerely
John Fitzpatrick
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Email to drivetime today.
Mary, when I was in school I was always told there are 32 counties in Ireland.
I,m sick of being told that people shopping up north are unpatriotic by Fianna Failers.
The government has contracted companies up there to provide quangoservices, moyah as part of their contribution to the Peace process, in reality it,s because the wages are lower.
I wonder will Minister Dempsey act in a totally patriotic manner when it comes to sacrificing more jobs from Aer Lingus?
BTW i,m in the private sector, and it,s about time this government were stood up to, maybe next time the unions could possibly persuade the private sector to go out with them.
They should ask their social partners IBEC to sanction their staff participating in the next day of protest.
Regards
John Fitzpatrick
I,m sick of being told that people shopping up north are unpatriotic by Fianna Failers.
The government has contracted companies up there to provide quangoservices, moyah as part of their contribution to the Peace process, in reality it,s because the wages are lower.
I wonder will Minister Dempsey act in a totally patriotic manner when it comes to sacrificing more jobs from Aer Lingus?
BTW i,m in the private sector, and it,s about time this government were stood up to, maybe next time the unions could possibly persuade the private sector to go out with them.
They should ask their social partners IBEC to sanction their staff participating in the next day of protest.
Regards
John Fitzpatrick
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Secret report
Dear Ms Doyle
I would appreciate if you could forward me a copy of the PA Consulting report titled Review of the National Maximum Taxi Fare, October 2008, along with the terms of reference required to produce this report.
I understand you might deem this report confidential on the basis that it is commercially sensitive.
As an Irish taxi operator, I believe that I am entitled to see the report to analyse and understand why my fares are set at the current rates. As I am part of the industry I should not be excluded from analysing this report, as I can assure you any commercially sensitive information contained in the report will remain confidential.
Regards
John Fitzpatrick
I would appreciate if you could forward me a copy of the PA Consulting report titled Review of the National Maximum Taxi Fare, October 2008, along with the terms of reference required to produce this report.
I understand you might deem this report confidential on the basis that it is commercially sensitive.
As an Irish taxi operator, I believe that I am entitled to see the report to analyse and understand why my fares are set at the current rates. As I am part of the industry I should not be excluded from analysing this report, as I can assure you any commercially sensitive information contained in the report will remain confidential.
Regards
John Fitzpatrick
To the Minister for Transport
Dear Minister Dempsey
I understand you appoint people to the Taxi Advisory council.
I would like to ask, why, only groups with vested interests, are included, while the vast majority of Independent Taxi Operators are deprived of the opportunity to participate in this process.
Yours sincerely
John Fitzpatrick
I understand you appoint people to the Taxi Advisory council.
I would like to ask, why, only groups with vested interests, are included, while the vast majority of Independent Taxi Operators are deprived of the opportunity to participate in this process.
Yours sincerely
John Fitzpatrick
The office of the Taxi Commission
Ms Kathleen Doyle
Commission for Taxi Regulation
35 Fitzwilliam Square,
Dublin 2.
Dear Ms Doyle
I feel I have to object to a comment you made to the Transport committee in an attempt to dismiss concerns about driver fatigue being suffered by taxi drivers in Ireland today. In particular where you state they are resting when they are on taxi ranks. My experience is that taxi driving has become the most stressful job that I have ever experienced. The number of jobs I’ve had are substantial and quite varied ranging from the clothing manufacturing trade, to building sites, Lorry driving, scrap metal yard, demolition, car dismantling, and as the managing director of a soft furnishings manufacturing company for fifteen years.
Never have any of those jobs measured up to anywhere near the same levels of stress and anxiety levels that I suffer every day driving a taxi.Regarding us resting at taxi ranks. If I could get on to a taxi rank I would have time to rest, you are waiting that long for a job, but the real reality is, I can’t get on to taxi ranks, and on the odd occasion that I do I spend my time almost fretting for the car in front of me to get a passenger so that my time queuing is nearly up. I watch the body language of people walking around the rank trying to determine who is headed for the first car. I constantly check the radio to try to determine if there is work in a different area. I use a mobile data terminal which means I can’t move away from the car, in case I miss a radio job, which means in reality I can’t even stretch my legs. I am basically in my car from the time I start until the time I park it outside my home.
When I can’t get on to a rank I spend my time driving around from area to area checking the radio, watching out for potential passengers on the streets and a new hazard I have to watch out for is the Gardai, in case I pull in at the wrong place, or forget to indicate, or some other infringements of the rules of the road, which can land me with a hefty fine.
I know you can not do anything about the lack of rank spaces or the attitude of the Gardai, but you should be much more knowledgeable when you speak about a serious issue like taxi driver fatigue. It’s not just simple tiredness, it’s also the stress and anxiety that taxi drivers suffer every day are affecting our health.
I know some people constantly say if it’s so bad then get out, the facts are I can’t. I owe too much money in respect of my investment in what I thought was a stable industry, thus I will have to suffer my stress levels adversely affecting my health.
I don’t have the luxury of limited liability which would allow me to liquidate the company and its assets (an issue I addressed to your predecessor, but alas to no avail) and then I could walk away and leave the debts behind without any worries.
I would also qualify for a Social Welfare payment. None of these options are available to me as a small business operator in Ireland of 2009.I trust you will treat the issue of driver fatigue and stress with a bit more concern for those of us that are suffering from it every day.
Another concern is your statement that the drivers are not availing of the opportunities available to us, in relation to affiliating to despatch companies. I’ve always been a customer of a despatch company and presently I am with the largest despatch company in Ireland. This company constantly uses a very expensive and extensive advertising campaign, national television and radio ads, billboard ads, bus advertising, leaflet drops, key rings, etc, all in an attempt to get more passengers for the drivers. Some of the other larger companies are doing the same. If they needed more drivers, then why would they bother to spend huge sums of money trying to attract more passengers? The fact is they need more passengers not drivers.
Again I trust you will reconsider your opinions on this matter. The facts are, we are all trying as hard as we can.
The last issue I would like to raise with you is the cost of a taxi licence. Justice Murphy’s judgement removing the entry barriers stated that local councils could only charge an administration fee of £100 for the issue of a taxi licence, and he ordered that all wheelchair taxi owners to be refunded any sum over that amount they had paid.
Can you tell me why the commission is allowed to ignore this ruling when the local authorities had to abide by it?
Regards
John Fitzpatrick
Commission for Taxi Regulation
35 Fitzwilliam Square,
Dublin 2.
Dear Ms Doyle
I feel I have to object to a comment you made to the Transport committee in an attempt to dismiss concerns about driver fatigue being suffered by taxi drivers in Ireland today. In particular where you state they are resting when they are on taxi ranks. My experience is that taxi driving has become the most stressful job that I have ever experienced. The number of jobs I’ve had are substantial and quite varied ranging from the clothing manufacturing trade, to building sites, Lorry driving, scrap metal yard, demolition, car dismantling, and as the managing director of a soft furnishings manufacturing company for fifteen years.
Never have any of those jobs measured up to anywhere near the same levels of stress and anxiety levels that I suffer every day driving a taxi.Regarding us resting at taxi ranks. If I could get on to a taxi rank I would have time to rest, you are waiting that long for a job, but the real reality is, I can’t get on to taxi ranks, and on the odd occasion that I do I spend my time almost fretting for the car in front of me to get a passenger so that my time queuing is nearly up. I watch the body language of people walking around the rank trying to determine who is headed for the first car. I constantly check the radio to try to determine if there is work in a different area. I use a mobile data terminal which means I can’t move away from the car, in case I miss a radio job, which means in reality I can’t even stretch my legs. I am basically in my car from the time I start until the time I park it outside my home.
When I can’t get on to a rank I spend my time driving around from area to area checking the radio, watching out for potential passengers on the streets and a new hazard I have to watch out for is the Gardai, in case I pull in at the wrong place, or forget to indicate, or some other infringements of the rules of the road, which can land me with a hefty fine.
I know you can not do anything about the lack of rank spaces or the attitude of the Gardai, but you should be much more knowledgeable when you speak about a serious issue like taxi driver fatigue. It’s not just simple tiredness, it’s also the stress and anxiety that taxi drivers suffer every day are affecting our health.
I know some people constantly say if it’s so bad then get out, the facts are I can’t. I owe too much money in respect of my investment in what I thought was a stable industry, thus I will have to suffer my stress levels adversely affecting my health.
I don’t have the luxury of limited liability which would allow me to liquidate the company and its assets (an issue I addressed to your predecessor, but alas to no avail) and then I could walk away and leave the debts behind without any worries.
I would also qualify for a Social Welfare payment. None of these options are available to me as a small business operator in Ireland of 2009.I trust you will treat the issue of driver fatigue and stress with a bit more concern for those of us that are suffering from it every day.
Another concern is your statement that the drivers are not availing of the opportunities available to us, in relation to affiliating to despatch companies. I’ve always been a customer of a despatch company and presently I am with the largest despatch company in Ireland. This company constantly uses a very expensive and extensive advertising campaign, national television and radio ads, billboard ads, bus advertising, leaflet drops, key rings, etc, all in an attempt to get more passengers for the drivers. Some of the other larger companies are doing the same. If they needed more drivers, then why would they bother to spend huge sums of money trying to attract more passengers? The fact is they need more passengers not drivers.
Again I trust you will reconsider your opinions on this matter. The facts are, we are all trying as hard as we can.
The last issue I would like to raise with you is the cost of a taxi licence. Justice Murphy’s judgement removing the entry barriers stated that local councils could only charge an administration fee of £100 for the issue of a taxi licence, and he ordered that all wheelchair taxi owners to be refunded any sum over that amount they had paid.
Can you tell me why the commission is allowed to ignore this ruling when the local authorities had to abide by it?
Regards
John Fitzpatrick
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Sent to Gerry Ryan RTE2fm
Gerry you may be interested in my blog entry re your interview with Ms Doyle. It,s clear from the interview to me, the reason the taxi industry is in such chaos is that Ms Doyle has no real understanding of what her job is, and whats really annoying is that she went on your programme and tried to convince the taxi operators in Ireland that she has their best interest at heart. At this point she is trying to get us on her side. Well let me tell her and you it,s too late, the Commission for Taxi Regulations days are numbered.
Regards
John Fitzpatrick,
http://dublintaxies.blogspot.com/2008/10/taxi-regulator-from-different.html
Regards
John Fitzpatrick,
http://dublintaxies.blogspot.com/2008/10/taxi-regulator-from-different.html
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Letter to the Irish Times
Madam
It strikes me as a voluntary unpaid director of a credit union that the financial regulators office can police small financial institutions such as credit unions with great rigour and efficiency, but it can not do the same to large commercial companies such as the banks.
As volunteers we work long and hard unpaid to comply with IFSRA regulations and we welcome the scrutinising that is involved to protect members interests, however as unpaid volunteers we would prefer not to have to do this extra work, but we do it in the interest of our members also our commitment to the ethos and principles the credit union movement in general.
As a director of a regulated company (a credit union) and also as a taxi driver to earn my living, it strikes me that compliance with regulations from the state are only for little people. As usual compliance for big companies is subject to their strength to avoid and manipulate the regulators.
As usual in Ireland, its one law for the rich, and a different one for the poor.
The admission today by the NRA, that their system will always only be 98% accurate, and with no means of independent appeal, is another example of the state protecting itself against the ordinary person.
As a taxi operator it amazes me that non civil / public servants can put taxi drivers out of business for fairly trivial reasons, but the IFSRA staff can’t put banks out of business even for serious breaches of regulations.
What we need now is a regulator of regulators.
Regards
John Fitzpatrick
It strikes me as a voluntary unpaid director of a credit union that the financial regulators office can police small financial institutions such as credit unions with great rigour and efficiency, but it can not do the same to large commercial companies such as the banks.
As volunteers we work long and hard unpaid to comply with IFSRA regulations and we welcome the scrutinising that is involved to protect members interests, however as unpaid volunteers we would prefer not to have to do this extra work, but we do it in the interest of our members also our commitment to the ethos and principles the credit union movement in general.
As a director of a regulated company (a credit union) and also as a taxi driver to earn my living, it strikes me that compliance with regulations from the state are only for little people. As usual compliance for big companies is subject to their strength to avoid and manipulate the regulators.
As usual in Ireland, its one law for the rich, and a different one for the poor.
The admission today by the NRA, that their system will always only be 98% accurate, and with no means of independent appeal, is another example of the state protecting itself against the ordinary person.
As a taxi operator it amazes me that non civil / public servants can put taxi drivers out of business for fairly trivial reasons, but the IFSRA staff can’t put banks out of business even for serious breaches of regulations.
What we need now is a regulator of regulators.
Regards
John Fitzpatrick
Letter to RTEs Pat Kenny show.
Dear Pat
I am amazed that the house of cards fell so quickly in the end. In March / April 1999 I was interviewed live by you regarding my questions about the so called and much hyped CELTIC TIGER. I made the point that only a small number of people were making lots of money and the rest of us were being subjected to higher living costs as a result of the increasing cost of property / homes.
The issue of dodgy P60s being accepted by the banks and personally I won’t call them institutions as I regard them as shysters and crooks as has been proved by the DIRT investigations etc. AS far as I know not one bank official at any level was ever charged with any criminal activity and here we are again with a financial crisis caused by the operation and greed by banks. It’s quite clear to me that we need much stronger regulation of banks. To assume honesty from these businesses is the greatest mistake that will ever be made, regulation should assume dishonesty and regulate and police accordingly.
Ordinary workers in many industries have operated their businesses properly and honestly, and it must sicken honest honourable business people in every industry outside the financial industry, that the banks can manipulate the government in the way they have over the last few days.
Businesses go to the wall every day we know that, however it appears that’s only for little companies outside the world of high finance, everyone else can sing for their supper and whistle Dixie on their way to the dole.
I accept the need maintain the integrity of the banking world however the real world of Irish finance should always have been protected by the regulator, not only for the banks, but more importantly for those companies that genuinely create wealth for this state. Banks should from now on pay for a bond to insure depositors both corporate and personal. This would give absolute guarantees to those companies that have substantial monies to invest and also to individuals.
There is much talk about the banks paying for the future guarantees from the state. Let’s be clear about this. If there is to be payments for this it will come from lower interest rates paid to investors and higher rates charged to borrowers, it will not come out of the share holders pockets. It will come from all of us that have to use the services of these badly managed companies, unless the future regulation of this industry acts in favour of the consumer again both corporate and personal.
Anyway I hate to say I told you so, but I did.
Regards
John Fitzpatrick
I am amazed that the house of cards fell so quickly in the end. In March / April 1999 I was interviewed live by you regarding my questions about the so called and much hyped CELTIC TIGER. I made the point that only a small number of people were making lots of money and the rest of us were being subjected to higher living costs as a result of the increasing cost of property / homes.
The issue of dodgy P60s being accepted by the banks and personally I won’t call them institutions as I regard them as shysters and crooks as has been proved by the DIRT investigations etc. AS far as I know not one bank official at any level was ever charged with any criminal activity and here we are again with a financial crisis caused by the operation and greed by banks. It’s quite clear to me that we need much stronger regulation of banks. To assume honesty from these businesses is the greatest mistake that will ever be made, regulation should assume dishonesty and regulate and police accordingly.
Ordinary workers in many industries have operated their businesses properly and honestly, and it must sicken honest honourable business people in every industry outside the financial industry, that the banks can manipulate the government in the way they have over the last few days.
Businesses go to the wall every day we know that, however it appears that’s only for little companies outside the world of high finance, everyone else can sing for their supper and whistle Dixie on their way to the dole.
I accept the need maintain the integrity of the banking world however the real world of Irish finance should always have been protected by the regulator, not only for the banks, but more importantly for those companies that genuinely create wealth for this state. Banks should from now on pay for a bond to insure depositors both corporate and personal. This would give absolute guarantees to those companies that have substantial monies to invest and also to individuals.
There is much talk about the banks paying for the future guarantees from the state. Let’s be clear about this. If there is to be payments for this it will come from lower interest rates paid to investors and higher rates charged to borrowers, it will not come out of the share holders pockets. It will come from all of us that have to use the services of these badly managed companies, unless the future regulation of this industry acts in favour of the consumer again both corporate and personal.
Anyway I hate to say I told you so, but I did.
Regards
John Fitzpatrick
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
M50 Guinea pigs.
The NRA have said that the new system on the M50 will not be ready until October, this really means December. Could I be so bold as to suggest they turn off all charges until the system has been fully independently verified as working correctly. No other service provider would be allowed to use their customers as guinea pigs. THe NRA should absorb all costs in testing their system. Also is there an independent appeals system available?
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Energy Price Increases
A copy of this was sent to the Irish times, the Tainaiste, and ICTU.
26th July 2008
Madam
It is with noted interest I read the report that the Commission for Energy regulation has sanctioned a 20% increase in gas prices. Your report states the average domestic gas bill is €822 per annum. My annual bill is around €1500 for a small 2 bed roomed home in Dublin, which is home to just 2 people which mean an increase of around €300 or twice the reported figures. We use gas for heating and cooking. We are an average couple, both working day time jobs which means we really should be paying the average €822 per annum. Something tells me there is an element of spin in these figures to report a smaller level of increase on the consumer.
There are a number of significant factors regarding this increase. We bought into natural gas as an economical green alternative to burning fossil fuels. At the current rates we will have to consider returning to the open fire as our source of heating.
Another factor that can not be ignored is how the gas and electricity price increases will fuel the spiral of inflation that will inevitably follow these. The affects of these increases on people will affect the ability of the social partners to strike a deal as the rate of pay increases required to cover these increases will invariably have to be factored into any possible agreement. These will be resisted by employers and in turn it will almost inevitably be rejected by the trade unions memberships, and a free for all wage bargaining will ensue, and then the employers will really have something to worry about. IBEC et al should condemn these increases and put pressure on the energy companies to refrain from these increases. These energy companies are large enough to weather a reduction in incomes at least in the short term, and they should do so, not hide behind the cloak of the regulator as though once the increase is granted they have to increase prices, they don’t and they should not increase their prices, (in the national interest of course).
There is another factor which intrigues me, and it’s the role of the Commission of Energy Regulation. In my naivety I believed the regulatory processes existed to protect the interests of consumers. These actions clearly demonstrate the interests of the consumer are being completely ignored, and the regulations are only serving the interests of big business.
The issue of industry regulation must be overhauled completely to reflect the consumer’s interest.
Regards etc
John Fitzpatrick
26th July 2008
Madam
It is with noted interest I read the report that the Commission for Energy regulation has sanctioned a 20% increase in gas prices. Your report states the average domestic gas bill is €822 per annum. My annual bill is around €1500 for a small 2 bed roomed home in Dublin, which is home to just 2 people which mean an increase of around €300 or twice the reported figures. We use gas for heating and cooking. We are an average couple, both working day time jobs which means we really should be paying the average €822 per annum. Something tells me there is an element of spin in these figures to report a smaller level of increase on the consumer.
There are a number of significant factors regarding this increase. We bought into natural gas as an economical green alternative to burning fossil fuels. At the current rates we will have to consider returning to the open fire as our source of heating.
Another factor that can not be ignored is how the gas and electricity price increases will fuel the spiral of inflation that will inevitably follow these. The affects of these increases on people will affect the ability of the social partners to strike a deal as the rate of pay increases required to cover these increases will invariably have to be factored into any possible agreement. These will be resisted by employers and in turn it will almost inevitably be rejected by the trade unions memberships, and a free for all wage bargaining will ensue, and then the employers will really have something to worry about. IBEC et al should condemn these increases and put pressure on the energy companies to refrain from these increases. These energy companies are large enough to weather a reduction in incomes at least in the short term, and they should do so, not hide behind the cloak of the regulator as though once the increase is granted they have to increase prices, they don’t and they should not increase their prices, (in the national interest of course).
There is another factor which intrigues me, and it’s the role of the Commission of Energy Regulation. In my naivety I believed the regulatory processes existed to protect the interests of consumers. These actions clearly demonstrate the interests of the consumer are being completely ignored, and the regulations are only serving the interests of big business.
The issue of industry regulation must be overhauled completely to reflect the consumer’s interest.
Regards etc
John Fitzpatrick
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Letter to the National Roads Authority sent 16th July 2008.
Dear Sir / Madam
As the removal of the M50 toll plaza draws nearer I decided to research the options available to me. I have no intention of allowing any private company to have access to my bank or credit card details. I then discovered that there is a way to pay the 3 euro toll before 8pm the next day, however there is no explanation as to how or where this fee can be paid. In reality the companies' etrip and eflow, do not have any mechanism available to me that does not result in a penalty being applied. If they can not facilitate an easy payment method, then they should not be permitted to apply any kind of penalty, until they have this facility available.
Can you tell me how I can avoid these penalties as I do not want to break any laws, and I do not like being put in a position where a private company can accuse me of doing something illegal and then I have to prove my innocence which in this case will be almost impossible?
The new scenario is supposed to be barrier free, but the etrip website advises;
"Should your tag fail to read you will be asked to pay by other means, such as cash or credit card
To minimise the chances of your tag not reading:
1. Approach the toll barrier more slowly and cautiously than normal, to ensure your tag is read and charged correctly and accurately.
2. Make sure your tag has the proper holder and is mounted correctly inside your vehicle. - this is very important
3. Do not wave your tag when approaching the plazas "
Below is the link for the webpage:
http://www.etrip.ie/faqs.php#Anchor-What-52
Will there be barriers or not?
If I leave the m50 and re-enter it again, does that count as two trips or one?
If I use the m50 more than once on any given day do I pay every time I enter the m50?
Can you also tell me how, I, as a taxi driver, can charge my customers for using this facility when it will not be obvious to them, that we have passed through a pay to use public facility?
Regards
John Fitzpatrick
Below is the repsonse from the NRA, and quite prompt it was too. I wish the rest of official Ireland was as efficient. THe info supplied by Mr Kennedy of the NRA seems to unequivocally say we will still only pay to use the bridge. The technology to be employed however, I believe is somewhat suspicious, not that Mr Kennedy or the NRA is responsible for that, they are not, it,s the companies supplying the services that will be responsible for it working or not working as the c ase may be. Anyway the NRA seems to have it all in hand.
THank you Mr Kennedy.
Dear Mr. Fitzpatrick,
Thank you for your email. You raised a number of questions which I have responded to below.
Barrier-free tolling is planned to commence on 30th August 2008, Barrier-free tolling will see the existing barrier operated West-Link facility being replaced with an electronic toll collection system. The electronic toll collection system will comprise:
overhead gantries which will span each side of the motorway (i.e. 2 gantries for each direction of traffic; first gantry detects the vehicle and the second reads the vehicle)
Beacons along the gantry which will capture each vehicle which has an electronic tag (on board unit – OBU) attached
Cameras (video imaging technology) along the gantry which will read the number plate of each vehicle passing under the gantry
Central operating system, held in a different location, which accumulates and processes all of the transactions captured by the cameras and beacons described above
As such there will be no barriers at the M50 toll location on the commencement of barrier-free tolling. Also the barrier-free tolling arrangements only apply to the existing "West-Link" section and not to any other "On / Off" M50 interchange movements or any other location on the M50.
There will be significant roadside signage information identifying the tolled section of the motorway which will assist you as a taxi-driver in notifying your customers that a toll is being incurred as they are travelling on the barrier-free toll section of the M50.
On the matter of the eTrip website FAQ response you highlighted, this response relates to the question : What happens if my tag doesn’t read at a plaza?
As above the M50 West-Link section is being converted to barrier-free tolling i.e. no toll plaza but all other toll facilities, East-Link, Dublin Port Tunnel, M1 Drogheda, M4/M6 Kilcock-Kinnegad and M8 Rathcormac/Fermoy will continue as plaza based operations. Any one of the approved tags (see below) will operate at any of the toll facilities and the advice eTrip provided still stands.
M50 Barrier-Free Toll Payment Options
The NRA has recently launched a new website www.tagcompare.ie which details all tag suppliers and the tag account options available. The lowest toll is available through the tag based payment.
In respect of your identified preference (i.e no bank account or credit/debit card account disclosure), both eTrip (http://www.etrip.ie/index.php) and TollTag (https://bookings.parkmagic.net/tolltag/) facilitate tag options that meet with your particular requirements. Please note that while eTrip is an existing authorised tag provider, TollTag is currently concluding arrangements with the NRA to be an authorised tag provider.
In relation to the eTrip tag it will shortly be possible to acquire a tag at certain retail outlets and to "top-up" the tag through a cash payment at nominated car parks principally located in the Dublin area. eTrip will be confirming these arrangements in the near future and their website will be updated to reflect the additional offerings.
Tolltag, once approved, is proposing to roll out a retail based offering also and further details will be provided by the company over the coming weeks.
For motorists who choose not to have electronic tag accounts on either an account or cash basis and who do not wish to avail of the number plate (video) account options they can use the tolled section of the M50 as an unregistered user. For unregistered users the vehicle plate number will be recorded when they make a journey along the tolled section of the M50. The motorist can make payment on the day of the journey or up to 8.00pm on the day after the journey by any of the following means:
On-line over the internet;
Through the 24 hour telephone contact centre being set up by the NRA, or
Through a bill pay system in over 1000 shops and garages nationwide.
In the first two cases this would necessitate providing bank account or credit/debit card account details. In the last case it will be possible to make cash payments at retail stores. This cash payment option is catered for by Payzone and a listing of the stores providing the service is available from the Payzone website www.payzone.ie
I trust the above addresses the issues raised in your email. If you have further questions please contact me.
Kind regards,
Michael
______________
Michael Kennedy
National Roads Authority
St. Martin's House
Waterloo Road
Dublin 4
Phone: 00353 (0)1 660 2511
Fax: 00353 (0)1 668 0009
E-mail: mkennedy@nra.ie
www.nra.ie
As the removal of the M50 toll plaza draws nearer I decided to research the options available to me. I have no intention of allowing any private company to have access to my bank or credit card details. I then discovered that there is a way to pay the 3 euro toll before 8pm the next day, however there is no explanation as to how or where this fee can be paid. In reality the companies' etrip and eflow, do not have any mechanism available to me that does not result in a penalty being applied. If they can not facilitate an easy payment method, then they should not be permitted to apply any kind of penalty, until they have this facility available.
Can you tell me how I can avoid these penalties as I do not want to break any laws, and I do not like being put in a position where a private company can accuse me of doing something illegal and then I have to prove my innocence which in this case will be almost impossible?
The new scenario is supposed to be barrier free, but the etrip website advises;
"Should your tag fail to read you will be asked to pay by other means, such as cash or credit card
To minimise the chances of your tag not reading:
1. Approach the toll barrier more slowly and cautiously than normal, to ensure your tag is read and charged correctly and accurately.
2. Make sure your tag has the proper holder and is mounted correctly inside your vehicle. - this is very important
3. Do not wave your tag when approaching the plazas "
Below is the link for the webpage:
http://www.etrip.ie/faqs.php#Anchor-What-52
Will there be barriers or not?
If I leave the m50 and re-enter it again, does that count as two trips or one?
If I use the m50 more than once on any given day do I pay every time I enter the m50?
Can you also tell me how, I, as a taxi driver, can charge my customers for using this facility when it will not be obvious to them, that we have passed through a pay to use public facility?
Regards
John Fitzpatrick
Below is the repsonse from the NRA, and quite prompt it was too. I wish the rest of official Ireland was as efficient. THe info supplied by Mr Kennedy of the NRA seems to unequivocally say we will still only pay to use the bridge. The technology to be employed however, I believe is somewhat suspicious, not that Mr Kennedy or the NRA is responsible for that, they are not, it,s the companies supplying the services that will be responsible for it working or not working as the c ase may be. Anyway the NRA seems to have it all in hand.
THank you Mr Kennedy.
Dear Mr. Fitzpatrick,
Thank you for your email. You raised a number of questions which I have responded to below.
Barrier-free tolling is planned to commence on 30th August 2008, Barrier-free tolling will see the existing barrier operated West-Link facility being replaced with an electronic toll collection system. The electronic toll collection system will comprise:
overhead gantries which will span each side of the motorway (i.e. 2 gantries for each direction of traffic; first gantry detects the vehicle and the second reads the vehicle)
Beacons along the gantry which will capture each vehicle which has an electronic tag (on board unit – OBU) attached
Cameras (video imaging technology) along the gantry which will read the number plate of each vehicle passing under the gantry
Central operating system, held in a different location, which accumulates and processes all of the transactions captured by the cameras and beacons described above
As such there will be no barriers at the M50 toll location on the commencement of barrier-free tolling. Also the barrier-free tolling arrangements only apply to the existing "West-Link" section and not to any other "On / Off" M50 interchange movements or any other location on the M50.
There will be significant roadside signage information identifying the tolled section of the motorway which will assist you as a taxi-driver in notifying your customers that a toll is being incurred as they are travelling on the barrier-free toll section of the M50.
On the matter of the eTrip website FAQ response you highlighted, this response relates to the question : What happens if my tag doesn’t read at a plaza?
As above the M50 West-Link section is being converted to barrier-free tolling i.e. no toll plaza but all other toll facilities, East-Link, Dublin Port Tunnel, M1 Drogheda, M4/M6 Kilcock-Kinnegad and M8 Rathcormac/Fermoy will continue as plaza based operations. Any one of the approved tags (see below) will operate at any of the toll facilities and the advice eTrip provided still stands.
M50 Barrier-Free Toll Payment Options
The NRA has recently launched a new website www.tagcompare.ie which details all tag suppliers and the tag account options available. The lowest toll is available through the tag based payment.
In respect of your identified preference (i.e no bank account or credit/debit card account disclosure), both eTrip (http://www.etrip.ie/index.php) and TollTag (https://bookings.parkmagic.net/tolltag/) facilitate tag options that meet with your particular requirements. Please note that while eTrip is an existing authorised tag provider, TollTag is currently concluding arrangements with the NRA to be an authorised tag provider.
In relation to the eTrip tag it will shortly be possible to acquire a tag at certain retail outlets and to "top-up" the tag through a cash payment at nominated car parks principally located in the Dublin area. eTrip will be confirming these arrangements in the near future and their website will be updated to reflect the additional offerings.
Tolltag, once approved, is proposing to roll out a retail based offering also and further details will be provided by the company over the coming weeks.
For motorists who choose not to have electronic tag accounts on either an account or cash basis and who do not wish to avail of the number plate (video) account options they can use the tolled section of the M50 as an unregistered user. For unregistered users the vehicle plate number will be recorded when they make a journey along the tolled section of the M50. The motorist can make payment on the day of the journey or up to 8.00pm on the day after the journey by any of the following means:
On-line over the internet;
Through the 24 hour telephone contact centre being set up by the NRA, or
Through a bill pay system in over 1000 shops and garages nationwide.
In the first two cases this would necessitate providing bank account or credit/debit card account details. In the last case it will be possible to make cash payments at retail stores. This cash payment option is catered for by Payzone and a listing of the stores providing the service is available from the Payzone website www.payzone.ie
I trust the above addresses the issues raised in your email. If you have further questions please contact me.
Kind regards,
Michael
______________
Michael Kennedy
National Roads Authority
St. Martin's House
Waterloo Road
Dublin 4
Phone: 00353 (0)1 660 2511
Fax: 00353 (0)1 668 0009
E-mail: mkennedy@nra.ie
www.nra.ie
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
National Consumer Agency
Dear Sir or Madam.
Can you take a look at these photos I took in Tesco Clearwater in Finglas. They offer dvds for 6 euro each or 3 for 25 euro. What is this about? Can you tell me if you can do anything about this type of pricing display or who I can complain to about this. It,s not only Tesco that does this, it,s almost everywhere and it is not helpful to consumers to have prices displayed in this way.
Regards
John Fitzpatrick
Can you take a look at these photos I took in Tesco Clearwater in Finglas. They offer dvds for 6 euro each or 3 for 25 euro. What is this about? Can you tell me if you can do anything about this type of pricing display or who I can complain to about this. It,s not only Tesco that does this, it,s almost everywhere and it is not helpful to consumers to have prices displayed in this way.
Regards
John Fitzpatrick
Thursday, May 29, 2008
National Consumer Agency
The reality of shopping around to force retailers to reduce prices.
If you have to travel for bargains then you must take into account the time it takes you to travel and also the costs of the travel and that’s whether you walk, drive, take a bus or a taxi. Depending on what the bargain is you might need to buy in bulk to justify the time and expenses incurred. If its fresh food then that’s out as buying fresh food in bulk means you have to eat it all while it’s fresh, or store it, until you need it, at which point it won’t be fresh anymore.
For this example I’m going to use one simple product, the Pint of Guinness.
I live in Cabra where the humble Pint of Guinness is Four euro in the local pubs. They are all within walking distances to and from my home. When I go out I usually have about six pints, (so for this example that’s what we’ll stick with). I walk to the pub and I walk home so no more expenses incurred and therefore my night out costs me €24.
Quite close to me is StoneyBatter, a lovely old Dublin village atmosphere with substantially more pubs and as such with real competition amongst them for customers. There are a number of pubs there, that a pint will cost you three euro eighty cent. That means my six pints will cost €22.80cent, (a saving of €1.20).
However here are the real costs. StoneyBatter is not within walking distance, has no bus service from Cabra, and therefore I have to get a taxi which costs €7.00 there and back, a total of €14.00.
Therefore the real cost of shopping around for six humble pints of Guinness €36.80cent which is €12.80cent more expensive than going to the locals in Cabra.
At this rate I would have to drink 70 pints in one go to justify the cost of transport, to, as the National Consumer Agency puts it, shop around.
So to shop around for a cheaper pint means, I would have to die, because that’s what drinking 70 pints in one go would do to me. I don’t think I’m going to die for the cause of the National Consumer Agency. So that’s it, proof that the National Consumer Agency is in no way going to protect or defend the little people, the consumers.
And that’s just the humble pint, imagine the grief you’d have, to do your normal shopping, especially if you were catering for a family with a couple of children.
An extract from the National Consumer Agency website.
http://www.consumerconnect.ie/eng/Get_Your_Rights/Prices/Paying%20Too%20Much/
This is not true; there are laws which currently regulate the prices of goods and services, i.e. taxies, and medicines to name just two.
If you have to travel for bargains then you must take into account the time it takes you to travel and also the costs of the travel and that’s whether you walk, drive, take a bus or a taxi. Depending on what the bargain is you might need to buy in bulk to justify the time and expenses incurred. If its fresh food then that’s out as buying fresh food in bulk means you have to eat it all while it’s fresh, or store it, until you need it, at which point it won’t be fresh anymore.
For this example I’m going to use one simple product, the Pint of Guinness.
I live in Cabra where the humble Pint of Guinness is Four euro in the local pubs. They are all within walking distances to and from my home. When I go out I usually have about six pints, (so for this example that’s what we’ll stick with). I walk to the pub and I walk home so no more expenses incurred and therefore my night out costs me €24.
Quite close to me is StoneyBatter, a lovely old Dublin village atmosphere with substantially more pubs and as such with real competition amongst them for customers. There are a number of pubs there, that a pint will cost you three euro eighty cent. That means my six pints will cost €22.80cent, (a saving of €1.20).
However here are the real costs. StoneyBatter is not within walking distance, has no bus service from Cabra, and therefore I have to get a taxi which costs €7.00 there and back, a total of €14.00.
Therefore the real cost of shopping around for six humble pints of Guinness €36.80cent which is €12.80cent more expensive than going to the locals in Cabra.
At this rate I would have to drink 70 pints in one go to justify the cost of transport, to, as the National Consumer Agency puts it, shop around.
So to shop around for a cheaper pint means, I would have to die, because that’s what drinking 70 pints in one go would do to me. I don’t think I’m going to die for the cause of the National Consumer Agency. So that’s it, proof that the National Consumer Agency is in no way going to protect or defend the little people, the consumers.
And that’s just the humble pint, imagine the grief you’d have, to do your normal shopping, especially if you were catering for a family with a couple of children.
An extract from the National Consumer Agency website.
http://www.consumerconnect.ie/eng/Get_Your_Rights/Prices/Paying%20Too%20Much/
This is not true; there are laws which currently regulate the prices of goods and services, i.e. taxies, and medicines to name just two.
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