Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 Apr 1999

Vol. 503 No. 6

Written Answers. - Hackney Services.

P. J. Sheehan

Question:

51 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the reason hackney car owners are not allowed to display a hackney service sign on their vehicles operating such business; the plans, if any, he has to redress this situation; and when he will allow operators to display these signs and bring hackney owners to the same level as their European counterparts. [10629/99]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Molloy)

In common with a number of other countries, Irish law and practice has long provided for distinct service roles between hackneys and taxis.

The Dublin Taxi Forum, which reported in September 1998, recommended against the merging of these service roles. However, the forum also recommended a number of regulatory improvements in relation to hackneys, including better external identification to facilitate enforcement of public service vehicle regulations.

I am currently seeking to progress, with the various interests concerned, a range of improvements to the regulatory framework for taxis and hackneys generally, following closely the advice addressed to the Minister for the Environment and Local Government by the Dublin Taxi Forum. This includes proposals for improved identification of hackneys. I hope to finalise these matters soon.