Theresa Ahearn
Ceist:32 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for the Environment his views on the number of taxi licences available in the Republic; whether he proposes to increase or decrease the numbers currently available.
Written Answers. - Taxi Licences.
Dermot Ahern
Ceist:45 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment when he will be in a position to allow current applications for taxi/hackney licences to proceed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Peter Barry
Ceist:115 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for the Environment if he will then arrange to meet members of the Irish Taxi Drivers' Federation to discuss the findings of the commission with them.
Tomás MacGiolla
Ceist:116 Tomás Mac Giolla asked the Minister for the Environment if he is prepared to meet the president and secretary of the Irish Taxi Drivers' Federation when he has received and read the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Austin Currie
Ceist:121 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for the Environment whether he will meet a member of the executive of the Irish Taxi Drivers' Federation when he has received the final report from the inter-departmental committee set up to review PSV regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 32, 45, 115, 116 and 121 together.
The inter-departmental committee established to review the law applying to the operation of small public service vehicles is looking at all aspects of the system. Pending consideration of that committee's report it would not be appropriate to anticipate any action I may take in relation to taxis or private hire vehicles or to give any commitment to meet particular groups. When I receive the report, I will carefully consider all the issues which arise.