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N Ireland urged to follow UK MoT

By JAMES DALLAS
THE FEDERATION OF SMALL BUSINESSES has joined the RMI in
calling for the government to bring MoT testing in Northern Ireland into line with the rest of the UK – where tests are carried out by
private licensed garages.

A strike in the province by the public service union NIPSA (Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance) is threatening to create a crippling backlog of vehicles waiting to be tested as a result of the disruption to appointments at seven government run MoT centres.
The Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency expected 5,000 MoTs to be cancelled last week with the situation set to be exacerbated with a further two centres likely to join the strike.
Despite the industrial action over pay by MoT staff the government has not waivered the requirement for a valid MoT certificate to be produced when a car is taxed.
FSB NI policy chairman Wilfred Mitchell said: “In the light of the huge backlog as a result of the industrial action it is time for the government to consider changing the system in Northern Ireland to that used in other parts of the UK, where private vehicles can be tested by licensed garages as opposed to government run centres.”
Mithchell added that a change to the system would not only provide business opportunities to repairers in Northern Ireland but also minimise the damage caused by any industrial action.
Mitchell said the disruption caused by the cancellation of MoTs could hit trade for the 60,000 small businesses in the province.
“By not having an MoT certificate directors of small businesses face difficulties in getting insurance and tax and cannot use their vehicle for business purposes,” he said.
“Our local economy could face significant damage.”
Matthew Carrington, RMI chief executive, warned of the repercussions of the strike.
“Secondhand car sales will be brought to a halt – dealers will be unable to sell stock as they will be unable to provide an MoT.” He also stepped up the RMI’s lobbying of the government to privatise the Northern Irish system.
“This strike could not have happened if the stations were privately owned.”

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