Can I dismiss an employee who refuses to drive a vehicle which has not got a valid MOT certificate?

The standard position is that driving a vehicle without a valid MOT certificate is prohibited under article 61 of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1995. However, with the current debacle surrounding cancelled MOT tests in Northern Ireland, the Department for Infrastructure has introduced a 4-month exemption certificate for cars over four years old while the issues at test centres are resolved. This should also enable the vehicle to be taxed until May 2020 and label the vehicle roadworthy.

Despite the above efforts to prevent drivers being stuck without a valid MOT, there is a difficulty if the vehicle is four years old and has never been through an MOT as the four month exemption