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| MoTs: Two new lifts going into operation in Northern Ireland | MoTs: Two new lifts going into operation in Northern Ireland |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Two new MoT lifts are to go into operation in Northern Ireland, possibly as early as Wednesday. | Two new MoT lifts are to go into operation in Northern Ireland, possibly as early as Wednesday. |
| They had already been purchased from the same company that provided NI's other 55 lifts. | They had already been purchased from the same company that provided NI's other 55 lifts. |
| Most MoT tests for cars and light vehicles in Northern Ireland have been suspended with immediate effect. | Most MoT tests for cars and light vehicles in Northern Ireland have been suspended with immediate effect. |
| It followed an inspection of vehicle lifts in NI's MoT centres that detected "signs of cracking" in 48 out of 55 lifts. | It followed an inspection of vehicle lifts in NI's MoT centres that detected "signs of cracking" in 48 out of 55 lifts. |
| As of Tuesday, more than 7,000 MoT tests had been cancelled. | As of Tuesday, more than 7,000 MoT tests had been cancelled. |
| Speaking on Wednesday, Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon said the two new lifts - one in Belfast and one in Newbuildings in Londonderry - "will allow us to increase capacity, get to those priority motorists and start to address the backlog". | |
| She said the lifts would be independently assessed before being put into operation in Belfast and Newbuildings. | She said the lifts would be independently assessed before being put into operation in Belfast and Newbuildings. |
| Ms Mallon said she was also conscious that people with four-year-old vehicles were concerned that their cars may be clamped if they are not taxed. | Ms Mallon said she was also conscious that people with four-year-old vehicles were concerned that their cars may be clamped if they are not taxed. |
| "DVA is not responsible for clamping vehicles, it is the DVLA which is a separate agency," she said. | "DVA is not responsible for clamping vehicles, it is the DVLA which is a separate agency," she said. |
| "But my department has been in close contact with them, we are making it clear that no-one should be penalised for a situation not of their making - very close to the position and assurances that we were able to obtain from the Association of British Insurers." | "But my department has been in close contact with them, we are making it clear that no-one should be penalised for a situation not of their making - very close to the position and assurances that we were able to obtain from the Association of British Insurers." |
| The minister said that car dealerships were also being affected by the MoT problems, as they were trying to sell four-year-old cars. | The minister said that car dealerships were also being affected by the MoT problems, as they were trying to sell four-year-old cars. |
| "I have said to DVA officials that I want the car dealers to be expedited and prioritised in terms of getting brand new appointments," she said. | "I have said to DVA officials that I want the car dealers to be expedited and prioritised in terms of getting brand new appointments," she said. |
| "They should be getting proactively contacted by DVA, they should be getting appointments. | "They should be getting proactively contacted by DVA, they should be getting appointments. |
| "Now that we've got these two new lifts in operation I've said that they must be used to prioritise taxis and four-year-old vehicles and that includes our car dealers." | "Now that we've got these two new lifts in operation I've said that they must be used to prioritise taxis and four-year-old vehicles and that includes our car dealers." |
| One Belfast car dealer, Martin Hamill, said sales were already being lost. | One Belfast car dealer, Martin Hamill, said sales were already being lost. |
| "They just turned round and said they wouldn't be happy to take the car until it was MoT'd, so I think they're going to go out and buy another car maybe with an MoT on it or maybe a newer car," he said. | "They just turned round and said they wouldn't be happy to take the car until it was MoT'd, so I think they're going to go out and buy another car maybe with an MoT on it or maybe a newer car," he said. |
| Meanwhile police in Northern Ireland have set out their position on the MoT cancellations. | Meanwhile police in Northern Ireland have set out their position on the MoT cancellations. |
| In their statement, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said: "Driving without vehicle tax is not prosecuted by PSNI and is the remit of DVLA. | In their statement, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said: "Driving without vehicle tax is not prosecuted by PSNI and is the remit of DVLA. |
| "Where a police officer detects a vehicle without tax and it is outside of the 14-day grace period provided in the legislation, a referral is made to the DVLA. | "Where a police officer detects a vehicle without tax and it is outside of the 14-day grace period provided in the legislation, a referral is made to the DVLA. |
| "Given these exceptional circumstances, where PSNI detects a vehicle without a valid MoT certificate, providing the vehicle is in a roadworthy condition, officers would be encouraged to exercise discretion." | "Given these exceptional circumstances, where PSNI detects a vehicle without a valid MoT certificate, providing the vehicle is in a roadworthy condition, officers would be encouraged to exercise discretion." |
| MoT exemption certificates lasting four months will be issued so motorists are able to drive. | MoT exemption certificates lasting four months will be issued so motorists are able to drive. |
| However, these cannot be issued for four-year-old cars or taxis. | However, these cannot be issued for four-year-old cars or taxis. |
| This is because four-year-old cars have never been through an MoT test before, meaning they do not have a certificate to extend, while taxis are covered by different legislation. | This is because four-year-old cars have never been through an MoT test before, meaning they do not have a certificate to extend, while taxis are covered by different legislation. |
| An assembly member has called for emergency legislation to be brought in to address the MoT "crisis". | An assembly member has called for emergency legislation to be brought in to address the MoT "crisis". |
| Roy Beggs said legislation should be considered to extend the period in which cars do not need to be have MoTs. | Roy Beggs said legislation should be considered to extend the period in which cars do not need to be have MoTs. |
| Mr Beggs, a member of the assembly's infrastructure committee, said he had put this to Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon. | Mr Beggs, a member of the assembly's infrastructure committee, said he had put this to Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon. |
| "We have to remember there's a crisis coming in four months time," he said. | "We have to remember there's a crisis coming in four months time," he said. |
| "In four months time we'll suddenly have twice as many as cars which will become due for MoT - those which are due at that time and those that are presently due." | "In four months time we'll suddenly have twice as many as cars which will become due for MoT - those which are due at that time and those that are presently due." |
| Mr Beggs said at the minute cars that could be 10 years old were being exempted | Mr Beggs said at the minute cars that could be 10 years old were being exempted |
| "I would have thought four-year-old cars would be much, much safer, much newer and built to a much higher standard and there would be a lesser risk," he said. | "I would have thought four-year-old cars would be much, much safer, much newer and built to a much higher standard and there would be a lesser risk," he said. |
| "We need to investigate all options." | "We need to investigate all options." |
| The infrastructure minister, Ms Mallon, said two reviews will be conducted to determine what went wrong and how to fix it. | The infrastructure minister, Ms Mallon, said two reviews will be conducted to determine what went wrong and how to fix it. |
| Tests on heavy goods vehicles and buses will continue. | Tests on heavy goods vehicles and buses will continue. |
| Daniel Donnelly, of the Federation of Small Businesses, said many small firms depended on their vehicles. | Daniel Donnelly, of the Federation of Small Businesses, said many small firms depended on their vehicles. |
| "It's absolutely key that clarity is brought soon," he said. | "It's absolutely key that clarity is brought soon," he said. |
| Paul Duffy, chief executive of the Driver Vehicle Agency, said each of the 55 lifts could cost £30,000 to £40,000 to replace. | Paul Duffy, chief executive of the Driver Vehicle Agency, said each of the 55 lifts could cost £30,000 to £40,000 to replace. |
| He said an insurance inspector who examined some of the repaired lifts on Monday was not satisfied with the work. | He said an insurance inspector who examined some of the repaired lifts on Monday was not satisfied with the work. |
| As a result, the agency was not comfortable that the rest of the lifts were safe to use, he said. | As a result, the agency was not comfortable that the rest of the lifts were safe to use, he said. |
| Mr Duffy said it was too early to say whether the lifts could be repaired or would have to be replaced, but there was a possibility they may need to be replaced. | Mr Duffy said it was too early to say whether the lifts could be repaired or would have to be replaced, but there was a possibility they may need to be replaced. |
| BBC News NI business reporter Richard Morgan | BBC News NI business reporter Richard Morgan |
| UK companies who manufacture MoT lifts told me the cost to replace each one could be in and around £30,000 to £40,000 because of the specifications required for testing in Northern Ireland. | UK companies who manufacture MoT lifts told me the cost to replace each one could be in and around £30,000 to £40,000 because of the specifications required for testing in Northern Ireland. |
| The average manufacturing time for each lift can be anything from five to 10 weeks. | The average manufacturing time for each lift can be anything from five to 10 weeks. |
| Depending on the capacity of the company they could make some simultaneously, but you are still talking a number of months to fulfil such an order. | Depending on the capacity of the company they could make some simultaneously, but you are still talking a number of months to fulfil such an order. |
| One firm told me they could fulfil the order in four months if they pushed themselves - but that's because they already have 15 in stock. | One firm told me they could fulfil the order in four months if they pushed themselves - but that's because they already have 15 in stock. |
| So that length of time plus a contract of this size and scale would inevitably be put out to tender by the department and that process could take some time. | So that length of time plus a contract of this size and scale would inevitably be put out to tender by the department and that process could take some time. |
| We don't know if the lifts will be replaced but it gives you a sense of the timescale and cost the department would be facing. | We don't know if the lifts will be replaced but it gives you a sense of the timescale and cost the department would be facing. |
| Ms Mallon said she has asked her permanent secretary to commission two separate reviews, which she will oversee. | Ms Mallon said she has asked her permanent secretary to commission two separate reviews, which she will oversee. |
| The first investigation will focus on "the precise timeline and to understand who knew what and when and all actions taken". | The first investigation will focus on "the precise timeline and to understand who knew what and when and all actions taken". |
| She said the review will be carried out independently by auditors from outside the Department for Infrastructure. | She said the review will be carried out independently by auditors from outside the Department for Infrastructure. |
| Thousands of MoTs had already been cancelled after the cracks in lifts were detected. | Thousands of MoTs had already been cancelled after the cracks in lifts were detected. |
| The suspension was announced on Monday night. | The suspension was announced on Monday night. |
| Motorists have also raised concerns about insurance cover if they are unable to get MoT certificates. | Motorists have also raised concerns about insurance cover if they are unable to get MoT certificates. |
| On Tuesday, AXA insurance said: "We are aware of the of the ongoing issues at MOT test centres in NI and that our customers may be concerned about their insurance cover. | On Tuesday, AXA insurance said: "We are aware of the of the ongoing issues at MOT test centres in NI and that our customers may be concerned about their insurance cover. |
| "AXA can confirm that until this situation is resolved, it will not be a requirement for AXA customers to have a valid MOT certificate, as long as all other policy conditions are met". | "AXA can confirm that until this situation is resolved, it will not be a requirement for AXA customers to have a valid MOT certificate, as long as all other policy conditions are met". |