Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 719: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on amending legislation to provide for a position in which a hackney business could be willed on by an owner to a spouse or child; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that such an amendment would allow a family to keep a family business in operation and would provide security for spouses of hackney business owners and would also provide greater security for persons with hackney licences who are currently employed by a hackney business. [21927/11]

Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 720: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on amending hackney regulations to ensure that persons applying for a hackney licence have to provide a tax clearance certificate in relation to their hackney business, when they have one, as opposed to providing a tax clearance in respect of PAYE employment; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an amendment would considerably enhance the Exchequer and would remove the loophole whereby applicants provide a tax clearance certificate in respect of PAYE employment, which allows them to access a new hackney licence for five years; if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that cross-checking such matters would be simple in view of the fact that applicants could be assessed to see if they already hold a hackney licence and if that is in operation. [21928/11]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 719 and 720 together.

The regulation of the small public service vehicle sector, including the rules in relation to hackney licensing or the transfer of licences, is a matter for the National Transport Authority under the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009. I have referred the Deputy's Question to the authority for direct reply. The Deputy should advise my office if he does not receive a reply within ten working days. In my announcements of 8 and 24 June respectively, I clarified the terms of reference and the membership of the Taxi Regulation Review Group, in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government. The review will enable the necessary further reforms of the sector to allow consumers to have confidence in the taxi system while also ensuring that legitimate and competent operators and drivers can be rewarded fairly by operating under a regulatory framework that is adequately enforced. It will address a wide range of issues relating to the taxi sector including the current regulatory policy and practices, licensing systems, enforcement and future dialogue with the taxi sector. The consultation on the review extends to all interested parties and stakeholders through an invitation for written submissions to be made by 5 August 2011.