Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 265: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has sought legal advice on the legality of the taxi hardship panel compensation payments in view of the case taken in recent months to the Equality Authority on the grounds of age discrimination against under-50s; if the advice available to him considers this age threshold to be legal or illegal; if a review of the terms and conditions of the scheme is under way in view of the case; if he intends to amend the terms of the scheme to address this discrimination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20180/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that a number of complaints of age discrimination under the Equal Status Acts 2000 to 2004 have been made to the Equality Tribunal in relation to the taxi hardship payments scheme, which is administered by ADM on behalf of my Department. A mediation hearing on one complaint took place in March 2005 but ended without resolution. ADM has been informed by the tribunal that the case will now proceed to investigation and, in this context, there is no indication at this stage as to when the proceedings will commence.

Legal advice has been sought on this matter and is awaited. There are no proposals to amend the taxi hardship payments scheme pending the outcome of the above proceedings.