Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 September 2020
214. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport if mask wearing in taxis is a mandatory requirement similar to public transport; if not, if it is treated differently; if he will engage with the NTA to clarify the position for taxi operators and passengers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23389/20]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, given the size of most taxis and other small public service vehicles (SPSVs), public health advice indicates that people travelling in such vehicles should wear face coverings. Guidance on the safe use of face coverings is available on the gov.ie website. Under existing regulatory provisions for the SPSV sector, drivers already have the right to refuse carriage to a passenger who does not comply with a "reasonable request" which, in the present circumstances, would include a request to wear a face covering.
On 13 July the wearing of face coverings on all mass transit forms of public transport was made mandatory. On 10 August the Government decided to make mandatory provision for wearing face coverings in retail settings too. The Department of Transport is at present working with the Department of Health, in consultation with the National Transport Authority (NTA), about extending the mandatory approach to include the SPSV sector.
In the meantime, compliance by passengers with the public health advice in relation to face coverings is being carefully monitored and, given the current situation and the public health advice, all drivers and passengers are strongly encouraged to wear a face covering while in an SPSV. In addition to face covering, vehicle cleaning is also important, and guidance on this has been available to the SPSV industry and on the NTA website for the last number of months.
