Masks to be made compulsory on Public Transport

[john m]

The chief executive of the National Transport Authority has said that fines are likely to be imposed on people who do not wear face coverings on public transport.

Anne Graham told Newstalk Breakfast that passengers this week will be “encouraged” to wear face-covering, but that from next week the NTA will be enforcing the new regulation which makes the wearing of face-covering mandatory on public transport.


Have the NTA issued any regulation to taxi drivers about how many passengers we can carry like they did on other PUBLIC SERVICE vehicles like trains ,Luas and Busses or are we NOT public service vehicles .

[Cool Boola]

Ifin I hear anythin oil let ya know   !

[john m]

Ill tell you why taxies are NOT Public service vehicles and what they are .Most on here got licences post Dereg .The Judge in his ruling refused to issue second licences to existing licence holders as he said what was to stop them sticking that extra licence in their back pocket and not using them .That would not solve the issue of lack of taxies .He also said a taxi licence is not a licence to work there is no obligation on a taxi licence holder to operate that taxi .That simply means that a taxi is a discretionary service provided by the taxi licence holder and used by the public .We as an industry have no Service obligation attached to our vehicles .

[Cool Boola]

I know what you mean....but if they can and do make rules about taxis then surley they will visit this issue?

[john m]

I know what you mean....but if they can and do make rules about taxis then surley they will visit this issue?

They wont make rules for taxies they might issue an advisory .If we were deemed to be PUBLIC SERVICE  then the public could demand an app proper taxi shelters in any area they deemed necessary .and we could ask for public service provision subsidies .Like every other PUBLIC SERVICE provider gets .

[watty]

HOLD THE PRESSES!  The NTA finally made a decision about taxis in less than a month!

https://www.nationaltransport.ie/taxi-and-bus-licensing/face-coverings-to-become-compulsory/

Face coverings to become compulsory
29/06/20

Face coverings will shortly be compulsory on all SPSV services.

Wearing a face covering is already strongly recommended. Now it is to become mandatory.

As public health authorities have advised, face coverings can help prevent someone who may not even know they are infected from making other people sick, and the use of face coverings will help protect both passengers and drivers alike.

A detailed regulation on this is being prepared by government departments and NTA is involved with that process.  That regulation will look at issues like enforcement and exemptions.

We will keep you updated.

[john m]

I dont see the word TAXI in that press release   do you .

[watty]

Found it here... https://www.nationaltransport.ie/taxi/publications-and-regulations/latest-news-and-industry-updates/


Then... https://www.nationaltransport.ie/taxi-and-bus-licensing/face-coverings-to-become-compulsory/

[stonethecrows]

29/06/20

"Face coverings will shortly be compulsory on all SPSV services."

Check the Date and the word "Shortly", sounds like it aint defo yet !

[Theoneandonly]

6 jobs this morning ... zero masks
Those of you not accepting customers who are not wearing masks will go hungry

But we are Public Transport according to you .So are you ignoring the rules ?

It's advisory for this week, fines will be introduced next week ... €500 notes I believe, the Media need to include us when mentioning this, like you, they think we're not included

[Bob Shillin]

As the bus drivers asked, are we, as drivers supposed to enforce mask wearing by passengers, i.e. if we have a passenger on board, and are stopped by the cops, will the cops be talking to us, or the passenger?
When I was parked up in Jobstown while the pax were waiting for a drug deal to be done, an unmarked police car came by, and questioned the passengers, not me.

[U Wha]

I dont see the word TAXI in that press release   do you .

But it does state SPSV.
Taxis are one of the licences that are described as SPSVs. Can you not just admit it when you are wrong?

Regarding your comment about taxis not having a public service obligation. That is true because they are not expected to operate on an non viable route. Still has nothing to do with with the fact that SPSVs and LPSVs are 'Public Service Vehicles'.

[Theoneandonly]

As the bus drivers asked, are we, as drivers supposed to enforce mask wearing by passengers, i.e. if we have a passenger on board, and are stopped by the cops, will the cops be talking to us, or the passenger?
When I was parked up in Jobstown while the pax were waiting for a drug deal to be done, an unmarked police car came by, and questioned the passengers, not me.

I hope we won't be enforcing it, and don't really want be turning away work because of it, I guess worst case scenario I'll have to dole out my own masks to them

[john m]

As the bus drivers asked, are we, as drivers supposed to enforce mask wearing by passengers, i.e. if we have a passenger on board, and are stopped by the cops, will the cops be talking to us, or the passenger?
When I was parked up in Jobstown while the pax were waiting for a drug deal to be done, an unmarked police car came by, and questioned the passengers, not me.

I hope we won't be enforcing it, and don't really want be turning away work because of it, I guess worst case scenario I'll have to dole out my own masks to them

Be ideal then if we are not Public Transport ?

[Cool Boola]

I would be concerned about bodies thinking that because they have a mask on..they might feel a bit of Ned Kelly coming on...