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Taxi Regulations.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 June 2004

Tuesday, 15 June 2004

Questions (413)

Ciarán Cuffe

Question:

466 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Transport if taxis are obliged to carry children when accompanied by adults; if he intends to oblige taxis to carry child seats, in view of the fact that some continue to refuse to carry children and babies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17617/04]

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Written answers

Under the public service vehicles regulations, whenever a person requests the driver of a vehicle used as a taxi standing for hire in a taximeter area to drive him or her to a specified place in that area, the driver must comply with the request unless, inter alia, the person making the request fails to tender the lawful fare or the driver has another reasonable excuse for refusing or failing to comply with the request.

In general, each occupant of a passenger car is required to wear a safety belt or an appropriate child restraint, as the case may be. The driver of a vehicle is obliged to ensure that an occupant of the vehicle who is under 17 years of age is either restrained by an appropriate child restraint or, provided she or he is four years old and upwards, is wearing a safety belt.

The requirement to wear a safety belt does not apply in respect of the use of a vehicle in which the fitment of safety belts is not mandatory. However, cars registered on or after 1 January 1992 are required to have safety belts fitted to all forward facing seats. Fitment of an appropriate child restraint is not mandatory in vehicles. Accordingly, it is the duty of the driver to ensure that when a restraint is available, it is worn.

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