Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 February 2013
235. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason for prohibiting the transfer of vehicle licences under the new Taxi Regulation Bill, in view of the fact that it is the PSV licence that determines a person's suitability to carry out the function and not the vehicle licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10735/13]
View answerThe regulation of the taxi industry, including issues pertaining to the transfer of small public service vehicle (SPSV) licences, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009.
Since January 2009 SPSV licences, including vehicle licences for taxis, wheelchair accessible taxis, hackneys, wheelchair accessible hackneys and limousines, have been issued on the basis that they are non-transferable. Licences issued prior to that date can be transferred only once.
The Taxi Regulation Bill 2012 provides for a prohibition on the transfer of all SPSV vehicle licences, in line with Action 14 of the Taxi Regulation Review Report 2011. The underlying policy principle for the prohibition on transfer is that a licence should determine a person’s suitability to carry out a function and it should not have monetary value or be traded on the open market.
The Taxi Regulation Bill also provides for the principles and criteria for licensing and the assessment of the suitability of a person to hold an SPSV licence, which includes a vehicle licence. Such suitability assessment would be the basis upon which a licence application would be refused or an SPSV licence could be revoked or suspended in the future.
I am considering separately the matter of transfer of an SPSV licence the event of the death of an SPSV licence holder, for example where there is a requirement for continuity of a family business. I intend addressing this matter in the current legislation, which will also take into account suitability considerations with regard to future holder the licence.
