A major part of the photography business in Castlebar is seriously under threat following the implementation of a new Government measure into the way photos for driving licences are to be captured. The Government has introduced a new credit card style driving licence and sought a service provider to fulfil this brief through EU Tender process. SGS has been awarded the tender which includes the capture of each individual’s photograph for his/her driving licence on-site at one of SGS’s locations to be set up around Ireland by September 2013.
SGS will not accept any photograph other than those captured on its premises by its machines even though it had the option to scan photographs brought in by applicants.
Staunton’s 1 Hour Digital Photo Express in Castlebar will be one of those affected by the new changes. The owner, Pat Staunton, welcomes the new licence and its convenient, internationally recognised, format but, after 25 years of providing a much sought after photo ID service, he is concerned by the implications of this decision.
He said: “An efficient, convenient, very cost effective service already exists for the public but this will soon be diverted to a more expensive monopoly. The loss of such convenient and useful services which bring customers into town centre businesses further threatens their survival and the existing jobs in the local area.” He continued: “There is no obvious benefit for either the consumer or the retailer through the new process, and the results will be more expensive, less convenient, and anti-competitive.”
He concluded by making reference to the French government which has been forced in recent times to overturn a similar decision, when the authorities saw its negative impact on business. “I call on the Government and the Road Safety Authority to reverse this ill conceived and unnecessary decision.”
