Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Amendment No. 5 refers to regulations concerning the issue of licences for wheelchair accessible vehicles, WAVs, only. The restriction of the grant of new licences to WAVs seeks to ensure that the proportion of such vehicles in the overall fleet is increased. I am sure we all want that. The National Transport Authority, NTA, is now considering further measures to promote the use of such vehicles. For the present, it is appropriate to maintain the existing restriction on new licences. Therefore, I cannot accept the amendment.

The statutory instrument was introduced by the Commission for Taxi Regulation under the powers conferred on it under the 2003 Act. It has never been challenged but it has been judged that it is not a quantitative restriction because new licences are being issued.