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Northern Ireland to update 0-licensing on par with GB
Page 8
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By Roger Brown NORTHERN IRELAND is to bring in legislation that will result in an 0-licensing system similar to the rest of the UK.
Northern Ireland minister for the environment Edwin Poots says he will take the Goods Vehicle (Licensing of Operators) Bill to consideration stage at the Northern Ireland Assembly, which will go to the next stage of parliamentary deliberation by the end of this year and become law in 2010.
Although there is an existing 0-licensing system in the province covering firms that carry goods for hire or reward, the new legislation will extend the licensing requirements to operators that carry their own goods (own-account).
Testing and compliance issues will continue to be dealt with by the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) — a government agency of the Department of Environment Northern Ireland (DOENI). An independent regulator, with similar powers to a Traffic Commissioner, is expected to be appointed.
Phil Flanders, Road Haulage Association Scotland and North
em Ireland director, says: "This will go a long way to making sure we have fair competition, and it will improve road safety:" Tom Wilson, Freight Transport Association head of policy for Northern Ireland, says the legislation is overdue and will improve the safety standards of commercial vehicles in the province.
Willie Oliver, managing director at Oliver Transport Services, in Coleraine, Co Londonderry, says: "Legitimate hauliers will benefit as everyone will comply with the same rules."
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