Minister Agrees to Revise Timetable for Implementing Legislation

The Assembly Committee for the Environment today challenged the Minister for the Environment over delays in implementing primary legislation. The Committee asked the Minister to attend their meeting today as they were concerned that legislation they had scrutinised some years ago had not yet been implemented by the Department.

Committee Chairperson, Cathal Boylan MLA said: “There are three Acts the Committee was particularly interested in receiving an update on: Taxis, Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) and Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions). We were concerned that these pieces of legislation have yet to be implemented, despite being passed by the Committee some years ago.

“At our meeting today the Minister has now agreed to bring forward the implementation of the Taxis Act to 2011 – an improvement on the previous timetable of 2014. He has also agreed to provide the Committee with revised timetables for the Good Vehicles Act and Local Government Act.

“The Committee is very pleased with the positive outcome of today’s meeting. However, we will only be fully satisfied when we see the Taxis Act implemented and having an impact on the ground.”