Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Regarding amendment No. 36a, the amendments to section 21 of the Bill are drafting amendments which provide greater clarity on the prohibition on providing SPSV services without the required licence. The principle of the provision is unaltered.

Regarding amendments Nos. 52a and 56a, the amendments to sections 32 and 33 are consequential as a result of the drafting changes to section 21 to correct the referencing of the demerit offences associated with the offences of contravention of the prohibition on operating without a licence under section 21, as amended.

I cannot agree to amendments Nos. 37 and 38. Subsections 21(1) and (2) are specific offences for providing SPSV services without a small public service vehicle licence and an SPSV driver licence. This is clarified in subsection (9), which specifies that these provisions do not apply to bus services.