Vol. 555 No. 3
147 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Transport if he has received the report of the taxi hardship panel; if it is intended to publish the recommendations made in the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18233/02]
A panel of three independent persons was appointed by the Government to report in general terms on the nature and extent of extreme personal financial hardship which may have been experienced by individual taxi licence holders arising from loss of income as a direct result of the liberalisation of entry to the taxi industry on 21 November 2000. I have very recently received a copy of the panel's report and will give it careful consideration, following which I will submit it to Government. As stated in the agreed programme for Government, the Government is committed to the implemen tation of the recommendations of the panel. I will arrange for the publication of the report following its presentation to Government.
Question No. 148 answered with Question No. 102.
