Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 102:

In page 62, before the Schedule, to insert the following new section:

“PART 10
AMENDMENT OF SECTION 2 OF METROLOGY ACT 1996

62.—Section 2(1) of the Metrology Act 1996 is amended—

(a) by inserting after the definition of “stamp” the following:

“ ‘taximeter system’ means a taximeter and distance signal generator which together make up a measuring instrument;”,
and

(b) by substituting for the definition of “user” the following:

“ ‘user’ means—

(a) the person or organisation responsible for the use of the instrument for the purposes of this Act,
(b) in the case of a taximeter system, includes in addition to any such user—

(i) the holder of a licence in respect of a small public service vehicle granted under section 9 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 in respect of which a taximeter system is installed, and
(ii) the holder of a licence to drive a small public service vehicle granted under section 9 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 in respect of a small public service vehicle in which a taximeter system is installed,

and
(c) the person driving or using a mechanically propelled vehicle in which a taximeter system is installed, in a public place for the carriage of persons for reward, whether or not that person is the holder of a licence mentioned in paragraph (b);”.”.

The amendment extends the definition of "user" under section 2 of the Metrology Act 1996 to include the holder of an SPSV licence to drive, or in respect of a vehicle to which a taxi meter is installed, or the unlicensed operation of a mechanically propelled vehicle in which a taxi meter system is installed, in a public place for the carriage of persons for reward. The amendment will ensure greater accountability by operators of taxis with regard to contravention of the rules applying to taxi meters under the Metrology Act 1996 and the responsibilities to ensure the taxi meter is verified in accordance with the requirement under section 14 of the Act. The amendment was sought after and is necessary in order to help clean up the industry and provide for greater accountability.

Amendment No. 103 is a technical amendment to make reference in the Long Title of the Bill to the proposed amendments to section 2 of the Metrology Act 1996 and the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008.