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The government of Northern Ireland has announced it is to bring in legislation that will result in an O-licensing system similar to the rest of the UK.

Northern Ireland Minister for the Environment Edwin Poots confirmed this week that he will take the Goods Vehicle (Licensing of Operators) Bill to its consideration stage at the Northern Ireland Assembly, which will go to the next stage of parliamentary deliberation by the end of this year and then become law in 2010.

Although  there is an existing O-licensing system in the province covering firms that carry goods for hire or reward, the new legislation will extend the licensing requirements to operators who carry their own goods (own-account).

Testing and compliance issues in Northern Ireland will continue to be dealt with by the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) - a government agency of the Department of Environment Northern Ireland (DOENI).

An independent regulator, who will have similar powers to that of a Traffic Commissioner, is expected to be appointed.

Phil Flanders, Road Haulage Association Scotland and Northern Ireland director, says: "This will go a long way to making sure we have fair competition and will improve road safety. Those hauliers who have flouted the law now have their days numbered."

Tom Wilson, Freight  Transport Association head of policy for Northern Ireland, adds that the legislation is "well overdue" and will improve the overall safety standards of commercial vehicles in the province.

Willie Oliver, managing director at Oliver Transport Services, based in Coleraine, County Londonderry, says: "Road transport in Northern Ireland will no longer have a two-tier system; legitimate hauliers especially will benefit from this legislation as everyone will now comply with the same rules".