22 January 2010
16.Policy options were considered in the review of the system in 1991 and in each of the two consultation exercises in 1998 and 2003. The way forward has been determined taking into account the licensing procedures that have existed in Great Britain and that have evolved further over the last 30 years including the extension of the licensing requirement to the own account sector and the application of environmental issues.
17.Each of the consultation exercises recognised that change was necessary and supported a general alignment with the system in operation in Great Britain. Consultation revealed that there was a need for some local variation, for example, with regard to the appointment of a traffic commissioner for Northern Ireland. This was also considered to be a much wider issue as policy options for other operator licensing areas (taxis and public transport) were being examined. Therefore, the Department decided that an option that would largely replicate the Great Britain system, but allow for local variations, would be the most suitable.