Vol. 419 No. 5
167 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment if he will give details of the provision which is made for doctors and nurses on urgent calls to park in restricted parking areas without getting tickets or being towed away; and if he will amend the law in order to give a proper statutory basis for certificates of exemption from parking provisions in such cases.
Restrictions on the parking of vehicles are imposed under section 55 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961, which prohibits the parking of vehicles in a dangerous position; under general road traffic regulations made under section 60 of the Road Traffic Act, 1968; and under local traffic and parking by-laws made by the Garda Commissioner under sections 89 and 90 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961. As the restrictions imposed under sections 55 and 60 are essentially road safety oriented, I do not consider that exemptions are appropriate.
Local traffic and parking by-laws provide for a range of parking restrictions which are applied primarily in the interests of traffic management. These by-laws are made by the Garda Commissioner with my consent and the provision of the type of exemption referred to would be a matter for the consideration of the Commissioner, in the first instance.
