The Ulster Unionist Environment Spokesperson, Danny Kinahan MLA has been highlighting the need for online car tax renewal arrangements for NI.

The South Antrim Assembly Member said: "Vehicle licensing in Northern Ireland are one of the few powers that has been caught up in the blur of devolution.

"Whilst in theory it is an excepted matter, under the guidance of the Secretary of State for Transport in London, the service is provided by the Driver and Vehicle Agency in Northern Ireland.

"Given the semi-autonomous nature of vehicle licensing here, it was unsurprising that separate IT systems appeared, and unfortunately this has led to disparities in the services available to Northern Ireland drivers when it comes to taxing vehicles - particularly in relation to online and telephone facilities," he said.

He said that the Ulster Unionist Party strongly believes that there is a simple and straightforward resolution to this problem - full integration of the IT system in Northern Ireland with the one in Great Britain

"Surely, given the technology available, this couldn't be that difficult?" he asked the Stormont Assembly this week.

"I welcome the fact that there has been some notional work towards this over recent years, but with the decision to suspend the integration project in 2009, it would appear that the momentum behind it has stalled.

"I am sure the Department is awaiting the findings of the feasibility report currently taking place - but surely the need for a fully integrated system is obvious."

He said that local drivers being severely disadvantaged by not able to renew their tax discs online.

(BMcC)