Transport Act (Northern Ireland) 1967

[F1 6A Refusal of road service licence in certain cases. N.I.

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, the Department shall refuse to grant to an applicant a [F2 bus operator's] licence, unless, having regard to the matters specified in section 6 and to the information given to it in pursuance of section 5(2), it is satisfied that the applicant—

(a) has an effective and stable establishment in Northern Ireland (as determined in accordance with Article 5 of the 2009 Regulation);

(b) is of good repute (as determined in accordance with section 46B);

(c) has appropriate financial standing (as determined in accordance with section 46C); and

(d) has the requisite professional competence (as determined in accordance with section 46D).

(2) The requirements of subsection (1)(b) and (d) may also be regarded as satisfied where there is designated in the application a transport manager who satisfies the requirements of subsection (1)(b) and (d) and who, in the case of a transport manager designated in accordance with Article 4.2 of the 2009 Regulation, is not designated to act as transport manager for a greater number of road passenger or road freight transport operators or in respect of a greater number of vehicles than the Department considers appropriate, having regard to the upper limits in Article 4.2(c) of the 2009 Regulation, or such smaller number as the Department considers appropriate having regard to Article 4.3 of the 2009 Regulation.

(3) In considering whether the requirements of this section are satisfied, the Department may take into account any undertaking given by the applicant (or procured by the applicant to be given) for the purposes of the application and may assume those undertakings will be fulfilled.

(4) Where the Department grants a [F3 bus operator's ] licence, any undertaking taken into account by the Department under subsection (3) that the Department considers to be material to the granting of the licence shall be recorded on the licence issued to the applicant.

(5) The Department shall not be required by subsection (1) to refuse to grant a road service licence on the ground mentioned in paragraph (b) or (c) of that subsection if the applicant satisfies the Department that he is an exempt person.

(6) There shall be specified in a licence granted by the Department the person who is to be continuously and effectively responsible for the operation of the vehicles to be used under the licence and who is specified as such in the application.

(7) Where the Department refuses to grant a road service licence, it shall serve notice on the applicant stating the reason for the decision.

(8) An applicant for a road service licence who is aggrieved by the decision not to grant a road service licence may, within 28 days from the service of the notice under subsection (7), appeal to the county court, giving written notice of the appeal to the Department.

(9) On an appeal under subsection (8) the county court, if it is satisfied that the Department was not justified in deciding not to grant a road service licence, shall quash the Department’s decision, stating the reasons for its decision and that decision shall be final.]

F1 S. 6A substituted (18.8.2014) by The Road Passenger Transport (Qualifications of Operators) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 (S.R. 2014/206), regs. 1(1), 9(3)

F2 Words in s. 6A(1) substituted (5.10.2015) by Transport Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (c. 11), s. 48(2), Sch. 1 para. 6(2); S.R. 2015/284, art. 2(1), Sch. (with art. 2(2)(3))

F3 Words in s. 6A(4) substituted (5.10.2015) by Transport Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (c. 11), s. 48(2), Sch. 1 para. 6(3); S.R. 2015/284, art. 2(1), Sch. (with art. 2(2)(3))