The Taxi Licensing (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Taxi Licensing (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 and come into operation on 10th April 2020.

(2) The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954(1) applies to these Regulations as it applies to an Act of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Amendment of the Taxi Licensing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015

2.—(1) The Taxi Licensing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015(2) are amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3).

(2) After regulation 3 (application for a taxi licence) insert—

“Automatic renewal of licences

3A.— (1) Paragraph (2) applies where a taxi licence granted in respect of a taxi before 10^th April 2020 has expired in the 31 days ending with 9^th April 2020 or expires in the 6 months beginning with 10^th April 2020.

(2) The Department may grant a taxi licence in respect of the taxi (an “automatic renewal licence”) as if—

(a) an application had been made for a taxi licence in respect of the taxi;

(b) the licence applied for were of the same Class as the licence mentioned in paragraph (1); and

(c) the Department were satisfied as required by section 13(3)(b) of the Act and regulation 7(1) or (2).

(3) An automatic renewal licence granted in respect of a taxi has effect for the purposes of the Act (and these Regulations) as if it had been granted on an application and after inspection of the taxi.

(4) An automatic renewal licence is subject to the conditions specified in Schedule 1A in addition to the conditions specified in regulation 11.”.

(3) After Schedule 1 insert the Schedule set out in the Schedule to these Regulations.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Infrastructure on 8^th April 2020

Chris Hughes

A senior officer of the

Department for Infrastructure