AQW 32547/11-15

Mr Fearghal McKinney
Social Democratic and Labour Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 31/03/2014
Answered On Date: 14/04/2014
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of the Environment, prior to adoption of The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulations 2013, whether he sought to conduct a comprehensive Equality Impact Assessment; and if so, what comparators were used.

Answer:

The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013, which came into operation on 1 August 2013, amended the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 in regard of medical standards for vision and epilepsy. The changes were part of the implementation of Commission Directives 2009/112/EC and 2009/113/EC (“the Directives”) which amended the 2nd and 3rd Directives on Driving Licences respectively and which introduced revised minimum medical standards in relation to vision, epilepsy and diabetes for applicants for driving licences or for the renewal of such licences.

Prior to the introduction of each of the amending Regulations, the Department carried out an equality screening analysis on the changes involved, which were included in a UK-wide consultation on the Directives carried out in 2011. No equality issues were identified during either the equality screening or the consultation processes. It was concluded in each case, therefore, that a full Equality Impact Assessment was not necessary.

I have arranged for copies of the Department’s completed equality screening analysis forms in relation to the amending Regulations to be placed in the Assembly Library.