Hey Turkey Vote For Christmas !

[John m]

From the NTA ..The consultation also includes an amendment to the current Taxi Regulations (Small Public Service Vehicle) Regulations 2015 in relation to the SPSV Driver Licence Validity Period as requested by An Garda Síochána.

So The GARDA want to reduce the Licence Renewal from 5 years down to What ?2 or 3 ?Why ? Will they reduce the 250 renewal fee pro rata or will they still Charge 250 every two years .

Can anybody ever recall the Garda opening a Public Consultation about anything else ?


Why the Fuck do people think they can make a Public Submission on how we earn a living .No Public Consultation on Ammending Publicans Licences to say how they may trade or how they may charge or get paid for their services .

[John m]

PROTECTION FROM WHAT ?A summary of the proposal is to update the current Fixed Penalties (fines) in order to promote consumer safety and protection, along with the introduction of a new fixed penalty (fine) for discrimination against service users with a disability.

This will help to ensure public safety and quality of service delivery, together with compliant operator and consumer protection.

introduction of a new fixed penalty (fine) for discrimination against service users with a disability.

I would agree with this Fine should be about 1000 .To many crypmobile drivers refusing to take a wheelchair .Seen it more than once Sorry I dont Have my Ramps or the Lift is broken .But drivers refusing to take Junkies ?Is that a Disability are they sick people is that a dissability (I take them all the time ).I have also seen Drivers on Heuston refuse to take a Service Dog wearing its Blue halter for a kid with Autism .I was about 6th took the job others all refused .

[John m]

Will we reduce the lifetime of the Licence renewal .

Yes
No,
Fuck No
I dont know

You have 60 seconds ,Ask the Minister its his Job ,Ask the TAC thats what they are there for ,Ask the Taxi drivers or Ask the Audience .
" Ok we will ask the Audience "
The Who wants to be a Millionaire school of Business Development .

Increase the Money taken from Licence renewal to pay back the EV grants .Robbing Peter to pay Paul .

[watty]

That Garda Licence proposal is the most vague thing ever!  But why would they make more work for themselves by shortening the licence period?



I wonder is it something to do with refugees/asylum seekers.  I have a vague memory of a recent court case where an asylum seeker (?) had a taxi licence but not a residency permit.  I think he got the taxi licence while his residency application was ongoing.  But 5 years later, when there was no news or he got refused his papers, the Guards tried to take his taxi licence off him & he took them to court to keep it.  Can't remember how it turned out though 

[watty]

section 7(3)(a) of the Taxi Regulations (Small Public Service Vehicle) Regulations 2015

7 (3) A licence to drive small public service vehicles shall remain in force until the earlier of—

(a) the expiry of a period of five years from the date of its grant or renewal,

(b) the surrender of the licence by the holder,

(c) the revocation of the licence under the Principal Act, and

(d) the disqualification of the licence holder pursuant to section 30 or 38 of the Principal Act.

[watty]

Ah, here we go...

Judge has 'grave reservations' about legality of policy applied to immigrant tax drivers

A High Court judge has expressed “grave reservations” about the legality of a policy that taxi driver licences would not be granted to a person with temporary immigration permission while awaiting determination of a residence card application.

<snip>

The judge made the comments in a High Court judicial review of two decisions of An Garda Síochana, Dublin Metropolitan Region: to firstly issue to a Bangladeshi national a Small Public Service Vehicle (SPSV) licence that was time-limited and later, on account of an adverse immigration finding, to refuse his renewal application.

The man’s temporary immigration permission allowed him to reside and work in the State while he awaited final determination of his application to retain his right of residence following divorce from an EU citizen.  He was granted a temporary SPSV licence that expired in April 2020 when his immigration permission lapsed. He was informed he could reapply when his status was renewed. However, the policy changed in the interim. Upon application for renewal, the licencing authority said it was not satisfied he was a “suitable person” to hold a licence due to his immigration permission being temporary and not regularised.  While the matters in the man’s legal action was significantly narrowed due to affirmation of his immigration refusal, the licencing authority asked for a determination of the issues of principle. It was explained there were a number of similar appeals against SPSV licence refusals pending before the District Court.

The 2013 Act envisages the National Transport Authority (NTA) becoming the licensing authority. However, the Commissioner of An Garda Síochana has assumed this role pending the requisite ministerial order being made.  A superintendent in the licensing department said the February 2020 policy shift followed a rise in the number of non-national residents seeking SPSV licences while on temporary immigration permission, the judge noted. The new policy considered the nature and duration of an applicant’s permission. Applicants with short permission would not be deemed suitable candidates for SPSV licences, said the superintendent.

This approach extends to people who are awaiting assessment of their application for a residence card under domestic regulations that give effect to the EU Citizenship Rights Directive, the judge noted.

[John m]

Nice Work Watty .But they knew this all along I told Pat Kenny on Prime Time about 8 years ago that Students did not have the right visa to work as taxi drivers .The rules for Student Non National Students precluded them from certain jobs .Transport was one of them .There are also issues with Student Visa Holders becoming Self Employed .Interesting to see the Employment Status of Deliveroo Cyclists ..The issue is anybody can apply for a taxi licence and sit the test but the award of a taxi licence IS NOT A LICENCE TO WORK as opined by the Judge in the Dereg Ruling .Anybody with a Student Visa can apply for a PRSI Number .The confusion arises when you hold both a SPSV and a PRSI Number .

You could be correct Watty in your assumption that The Garda MUST issue a SPSV to successful test takers but on reissue they ask for proof of use and tax clearance .This would identify that certain SPSV licences had been used ILLEGALLY for the Purpose of Working Illegally .