Schedules Schedule 5: Private hire vehicles etc. Taxis Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (c. 4)
Paragraph 45 states that the Taxis Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 is amended as set out in the paragraphs to follow.
	Paragraphs 46 and 48 amend the 2008 Act to provide that taxi operator (paragraph 46) and driver (paragraph 48) licences shall not be issued to applicants who are disqualified by their immigration status. The licensing authority must have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State in making a decision about someone’s immigration status.
	Paragraph 47 inserts a new section 2A into the 2008 Act which ensures that where someone’s immigration leave is time-limited to less than the statutory length for an operator's licence, the licence will be issued for a duration which does not exceed the applicant’s period of leave. Where an applicant’s leave has been extended by virtue of section 3C of the Immigration Act 1971, any licence granted will be limited to a period not exceeding six months.
	Where a licence holder’s leave comes to an end (for example, through curtailment) their licence automatically lapses. Where a licence holder’s leave disqualifies them from continuing to hold their licence or it expires, the holder must return their licence to the licensing authority. A person who fails to do so within seven days, without reasonable cause, will be committing an offence.
	Paragraph 49 inserts a new section 23A which makes similar amendments as new section 2A in respect of driver licences.
	Paragraph 50 specifies that grounds for suspension and revocation of driver and operator licences include where the holder has been convicted of an immigration offence or required to pay an immigration penalty
	Paragraph 52 clarifies that on any appeal against the refusal or revocation of a licence the court is not entitled to consider whether the appellant should be granted leave, or has been granted leave subsequent to the decision being appealed.
	Paragraph 53 inserts a new section 56A into the 2008 Act which defines ‘persons disqualified by reason of immigration status’, which is used in the rest of the new provisions, as meaning someone who is subject to immigration control and has no valid and extant leave in the UK, or no right to undertake the work in question. It also specifies that these provisions apply to those who are on immigration bail who have no right to work, and defines a licensable activity.
	Paragraph 53 also inserts new section 56B which details what are relevant immigration offences and immigration penalties for the purposes of these provisions.