Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 105: To ask the Minister for Transport the basis for the exemption of taxis from the new rules on child seatbelts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30055/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The basis for the exemption contained in the European Communities (Compulsory Use of Safety Belts and Child Restraints Systems in Motor Vehicles) Regulations 2006 permitting children to travel without child restraints in the rear of small public service vehicles (i.e. taxis, hackneys and limousines) if appropriate child restraints are not available is provided for in Directive 2003/20/EC relating to the compulsory wearing of safety belts and child restraints. The Directive gives Member States the option to allow children to travel without child restraints in the rear of small public service vehicles if restraints are not available. In allowing for such arrangements, the Directive recognises that child restraint systems come in a number of different weight classes and that it would not be reasonable to expect drivers of these vehicles to always have the appropriate child restraint available in their vehicles. For that reason, in making the Regulations to transpose the Directive into Irish law, the option in the Directive permitting children to travel without child restraints in the rear of small public service vehicles was reluctantly exercised.

Notwithstanding the legal position, it would be my desire and that of the Road Safety Authority that owners of small public service vehicles would endeavour to provide child restraints in so far as it is practicable to do so. To that end, the Commissioner for Taxi Regulation has been requested to engage with the industry with a view to devising guidelines on best practice in relation to the carrying of children in small public service vehicles.