asked the Minister for Local Government whether any person or authority has a right to prohibit a taxi owner and vehicle approved by the carriage office of the Garda Síochána from plying for hire at a taxi rank.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Operation of Taxis.
32.
A taxi owner to whom a licence has been granted by the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána is entitled to use his vehicle for hire at a taxi rank appointed on a public road by the Garda Commissioner. The use of a taxi on property which is not a public road is subject to any prohibitions or restrictions which the owner of that property may wish to impose.
Can the Minister say whether or not the Garda are consulted about the location of taxi ranks not on the public road, that is, at railway stations, at shipping berths, at airports and otherwise?
The Commissioner of the Garda Síochána is the licensing authority for taxi licences and licences are issued on the basis——
He does not know.
With regard to stands and public roads, the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána is also the licensing authority but the taxi station at a place like Dublin Airport is not one appointed by the Garda Commissioner and it is not on a public road. Therefore, the Garda Commissioner has no function in regard to this matter.
He was not consulted, I suppose?
No.