Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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350. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to legislate to make masks and face coverings compulsory for passengers in a taxi. [33573/20]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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368. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has introduced legislation that makes it mandatory to wear face coverings in taxis as a safety precaution against Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33767/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 350 and 368 together.

Given the size of most taxis and other small public service vehicles (SPSVs), public health advice indicates that people travelling in such vehicles should wear face coverings. Guidance on the safe use of face coverings is available on the gov.ie website.

Under existing regulatory provisions for the SPSV sector, drivers already have the right to refuse carriage to a passenger who does not comply with a "reasonable request" which, in the present circumstances, would include a request to wear a face covering.

The wearing of face coverings on all mass transit forms of public transport has recently been made mandatory. The Department of Transport and the Department of Health collaborated to draft Regulations to extend this mandatory approach to include the SPSV sector and the draft regulations are now with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel for final drafting. These Regulations will be made by the Minister for Health under the Health Act 1947.

It is expected that these Regulations will be made shortly. In light of the public health advice, all drivers and passengers are strongly encouraged to wear a face covering while in an SPSV.