{"id":19266,"date":"2022-10-06T21:39:30","date_gmt":"2022-10-06T21:39:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/legalblog.ie\/?p=19266"},"modified":"2024-02-04T19:23:00","modified_gmt":"2024-02-04T19:23:00","slug":"operators-licence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/operators-licence\/","title":{"rendered":"Operators Licence"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_63 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/operators-licence\/#EU_Regulation\" title=\"EU Regulation\">EU Regulation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/operators-licence\/#Criteria\" title=\"Criteria\">Criteria<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/operators-licence\/#Older_Merchandise_Licences\" title=\"Older Merchandise Licences\">Older Merchandise Licences<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/operators-licence\/#Bus_Bye-Laws\" title=\"Bus Bye-Laws\">Bus Bye-Laws<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/operators-licence\/#Licensing_of_Bus_Services\" title=\"Licensing of Bus Services\">Licensing of Bus Services<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/operators-licence\/#General\" title=\"General\">General<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"EU_Regulation\"><\/span>EU Regulation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>EU regulations regulate the business of road transport operators. The purpose is to provide EU-wide rules and a level playing field for businesses. The Department of Transport is the regulator in Ireland. An operator&#8217;s licence is an authorisation to pursue the occupation of road transport operator under the regulations.<\/p>\n<p>A community (EU) licence authorises an operator to operate throughout the EU. They would be obliged to comply with general road traffic and regulations of states in which the business is undertaken and through which they drive. Officers of the Department of Transport, as well as members of Garda Siochana, have powers under the legislation to make appropriate checks requirements and verify compliance.<\/p>\n<p>There are training competence and finance requirements applicable. The transport managers are to have certain qualifications and competence. There are ongoing compliance obligations. Breaches an offence.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Criteria\"><\/span>Criteria<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In deciding whether to grant a licence or continue an existing licence, regard is had to<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>reputation of the operator<\/li>\n<li>conduct of the operator or other key persons which may call into question their suitability to hold an operator licence<\/li>\n<li>suitability of the transport managers having regard to conduct<\/li>\n<li>previous infringements<\/li>\n<li>previous offences<\/li>\n<li>previous breaches of conditions<\/li>\n<li>need to ensure the safety and welfare of other users of the road<\/li>\n<li>representations received<\/li>\n<li>other relevant information<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Older_Merchandise_Licences\"><\/span>Older Merchandise Licences<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The merchandise road transport legislation is older legislation dealing with the carriage of goods. Generally, a licence is required under the legislation to operate a merchandise road transport business or to carry merchandising in the state. There are certain limited exceptions. They include<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>carriage of produce in vehicles less than 2.5 tons unladen 6 tonnes laden<\/li>\n<li>carriage of cattle, sheep or pigs<\/li>\n<li>carriage of newly harvested wheat malts and barley from a farm to a place of storage processing or assembly in the period first August to 1st December<\/li>\n<li>carriage of milk and milk containers to a cream Murray or cream separating centre<\/li>\n<li>certain carriage of turf<\/li>\n<li>carriage of livestock for persons living within 2 miles of a farm livestock auction or market under certain conditions<br \/>\nwithin a radius of 20 miles<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Breach of the legislation is an offence<\/p>\n<p>Vehicles licensed under the merchandise road transport legislation must exhibit a prescribed plate which is visible and can be inspected. Failure to do so is an offence.<\/p>\n<p>A contract for the carriage by road of goods for reward is invalid unless the holder has a road carrier licence or the carriage falls into one of the excepted categories for which a licence is not required. Breaches are also an offence.<\/p>\n<p>The drivers of merchandise-licensed vehicles must carry the licence. Failure to do so is an offence. A member of Garda Siochana may demand production. Failure to produce is an offence.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Bus_Bye-Laws\"><\/span>Bus Bye-Laws<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Bye laws may be made in relation to the travel bus services. Contravention of the bylaws is an offence. The bye laws provide rules in relation to<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>conduct in boarding, on and in alighting from a vehicle<\/li>\n<li>behaviour while on board<\/li>\n<li>interference with vehicles<\/li>\n<li>duties of passengers<\/li>\n<li>things brought onto the vehicle<\/li>\n<li>payment of fares and tickets<\/li>\n<li>enforcement procedures<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Licensing_of_Bus_Services\"><\/span>Licensing of Bus Services<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Public Transport Regulation Act 2009 provides for the licensing of public bus passenger services. The licence specifies the route and the conditions. There may be conditions regarding scheduling and frequency of service operation.<\/p>\n<p>The categories of public bus passenger service licences are provided for. The authority provides for the period of validity which is a maximum of five years. An application is made for renewal.<\/p>\n<p>There are provisions to deal with the death of a licence holder, which permits the personal representative to carry on the business for a limited period. There is a provision for the transfer of licences. An application is made to the Department.<\/p>\n<p>License may be revoked on various grounds including in particular conviction of offences under that legislation. A notice of intention p to revoke is given. Submissions may be made which are taken into account.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"General\"><\/span>General<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The road traffic legislation contains several provisions on driving hours in respect of driving not covered by the EU-wide legislation. The rules are broadly similar in terms of hours, which may be driven.<\/p>\n<p>It is an offence to fail to shut the gates at certain level crossings. The subject of summary conviction is a fine of up to \u20ac1000.<\/p>\n<p>A transport disc is required in relation to a road passenger transport vehicle. It is an offence to fail to display the disc while the vehicle is being operated.<\/p>\n<!--themify_builder_content-->\n<div id=\"themify_builder_content-19266\" data-postid=\"19266\" class=\"themify_builder_content themify_builder_content-19266 themify_builder tf_clear\">\n    <\/div>\n<!--\/themify_builder_content-->\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>EU Regulation EU regulations regulate the business of road transport operators. The purpose is to provide EU-wide rules and a level playing field for businesses. The Department of Transport is the regulator in Ireland. An operator&#8217;s licence is an authorisation to pursue the occupation of road transport operator under the regulations. A community (EU) licence [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[232],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19266"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19266"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19266\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31393,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19266\/revisions\/31393"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19266"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19266"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19266"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}