Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

This is an important amendment that enables the NTA to make regulations concerning the standard of equipment in vehicles and on evidence on verification of taximeters and taximeter systems in line with regulations under the Metrology Act 1996. Legal advice obtained a couple of years ago identified difficulties in the NTA prosecuting for meter verification issues.

The advice was to the effect that because verification is a complex process, it may be necessary to have a legal Legal Metrology Service inspector involved in each prosecution. This amendment will provide for a straightforward prosecution for not having the correct meter verification seal on the meter to be pursued by the National Transport Authority without having to rely on a joint prosecution.