Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 169: To ask the Minister for Transport the progress made in completing arrangements in order that Section 36 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2003 can be commenced. [16240/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Section 36 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2003, as amended by section 36 of the Road Traffic Act 2004, provides for a system of automatic disqualification from applying for or holding a small public service vehicle driver or vehicle licence in respect of persons who have been convicted of one of a range of very serious offences, including murder, manslaughter and various sexual, drug trafficking and other offences.

In view of the potential effects the application of this section will have on both existing and potential licence holders and the need in particular to ensure that appropriate systems are in place to address applications to the Courts under the section, a very particular set of specific arrangements must be in place before the section can be commenced. The process of adopting those arrangements is currently being considered through consultation between the Commission for Taxi Regulation, An Garda Síochána, the Courts Service, my Department and the Office of the Attorney General.

The commencement date for the section will be determined when the necessary arrangements have been settled. An appropriate period of advance notice of the proposed commencement of the section will be required to allow persons who may be affected by the provisions, in particular existing licence holders, to clarify their position with the courts as is specifically provided for in the section.