asked the Minister for Local Government whether he proposes to introduce additional regulations with a view to benefiting the taxi service and its operators.

I expect to be in a position shortly to make amending regulations on this subject.

Can the Minister indicate whether these regulations will prove advantageous to the taximen?

Naturally.

Can he indicate when exactly these regulations will be introduced?

I cannot give an exact date but it will be within the next few weeks.

Can the Minister give one example in regard to what he proposes that would be of advantage to the taximen?

No. I do not think any such example should be given at this stage but that we wait for the production of the whole package. However, I think the Deputy will be satisfied that the taximen are being well catered for.

17.

asked the Minister for Local Government whether he proposes to establish a taxi board; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I have no present proposal to establish such a board.

Would the Minister accept that there would be no better way of catering for the taximen than the establishment of the board in question?

I do not think that the taximen consider the establishment of a board to be of the same importance now as they considered it would be some time ago. I told them on July 20th last that it was intended to establish a board but I have not heard from them since on this matter. Therefore, I assume that it is not of as much interest to them as it was.

Apart from the Minister's assumption, has he had any indication from the representatives of the taximen that they do not want a board?

I have no indication that they still want a board.

But the Minister has no indication of their not wanting a board.

No, except for the fact that they have not displayed any interest since July last in this matter.

Would the Minister allow for a situation in which the taximen were of the opinion that they were knocking their heads against a stone wall?

I would not accept that. On numerous occasions they have come to see me or my staff. They know they are always welcome to do so and I presume that if they considered the board to be of vital importance they would seek a meeting quicker in that regard. I should prefer if this question were left until after the package had been offered to them and then if they are dissatisfied, the situation can be discussed with them.

Is the Minister aware of the contribution that is being made by these people, both socially and economically, to the life of the city and, indeed, of the country, in their endeavour to organise so that they may have a living wage and may we assume that they have a good friend in the Minister?

They are aware of that. Our concern has been demonstrated to them during the past four years and they have indicated that for the first time there is somebody who is prepared to listen to them.

We must move on to Question No. 18.

I can tell the Minister that there is no such confidence on their part.

Order.

The taximen would be the best judges of that.

All I can say in reply to Deputy Molloy is that he would not be a good judge of what I do.

Question No. 18.

The Minister has denied that he was on the taximen's mailing list.

I was not on their mailing list for the document to which the Deputy was referring but since I made that remark I have received communications from the taximen.

May we take it that the Minister is doing everything in regard to the interests of these people?

Order. We must move on to the next question.

The Minister always tells the truth.

That would depend on what the Deputy means.