Vol. 497 No. 5
239 Ms McManus asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will ensure that hackney cabs receive the same entitlement as taxis to drive in bus lanes and park in designated areas at Heuston and Connolly stations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26042/98]
255 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will extend the use of bus lanes to hackney drivers as part of Operation Freeflow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25534/98]
256 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the proposals, if any, he has to create a hackney sign with a badge number displayed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25535/98]
257 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the proposals, if any, to allow for the use of two way transmitter radios to be used by hackney drivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25536/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 239, 255, 256 and 257 together.
I have received a number of proposals in relation to hackneys, including the use of bus lanes, the use of two-way radios, and the external identification of hackneys. I am giving careful consideration to these issues in the context of a package of recommendations in relation to the operation of taxis and hackneys which the Dublin Taxi Forum has addressed to my Department, other Departments and agencies, and taxi and hackney interests. I intend to complete my consideration of the issues involved with a view to any necessary action as soon as possible.
Ireland, in common with a number of other countries, has long maintained a distinction between the service roles of hackneys and taxis, with the right to stand or ply for hire in public being reserved to the latter. I do not consider that it would be practicable in the short-term to abolish this distinction of service roles, and I have no such proposal.
