Mr. Gerard Macken:

It is a nine-year rule, but because of Covid, we urge that licences would be extended to 15 years. A precedent has already been set for wheelchair-accessible vehicles. There are Citroën Berlingos, Peugeot Partner Teepees and other vehicles in that category but the saloon car, which is subject to the nine-year rule, has far superior safety and comfort. We appeal to the NTA to extend the nine-year rule to 15 years given that for the foreseeable future taxi drivers will not be able to get finance for a new vehicle. The buy-back scheme might be the best opportunity for individuals who have medical problems or other issues that might not be deemed safe to come back into the industry until a vaccine is found, if that ever happens.