Cities suffer gridlock as taxi drivers protest over proposed regulations

DUBLIN and Cork airports and the capital’s O’Connell Street were among the areas targeted by taxi drivers yesterday.

Up to 1,000 protesting drivers in Dublin were boosted by a taxi convoy from Cork.

The protests were in solidarity with two members of the Irish Taxi Council (ITC) who had occupied the office of the Taxi Regulator overnight.

The most serious disruption was in Dublin city centre, which was brought to a near complete gridlock at evening rush hour.

The taxi men are calling for proposed regulations to be shelved and the introduction of other reforms to counter a massive influx of people into the industry.

ITC president Frank Byrne said: “Drivers and their families are suffering badly at a time when solutions can be put in place.”

Mr Byrne said the ITC was “not interested” in meeting with the Taxi Regulator but wanted to meet with the Minister for Transport “or the Taoiseach in his absence”.

Drivers in Kerry, Limerick, Waterford, Sligo and Donegal also joined the protest withdrawing their services.

The regulations which are to be introduced shortly include a massive hike in the price of a taxi driver licence, new annual tests on the suitability of a vehicle and a ban on any car more than nine years old from carrying passengers.

A Department of Transport spokesman said the protests do not address the challenges faced by drivers and urged them to resume discussions with the regulator.

Irish Taxi Drivers’ Federation President John Ussher said: “Taxi drivers have had to bear the costs for all the expenses the regulator has introduced. They’re looking at the increases and they’re looking at their income drop. Some of them are earning less than the minimum wage.”

In a statement the Taxi Regulator said they would continue with the implementation of the controversial new regulations.

Representatives of Siptu, the National Taxi Drivers’ Union, the Irish Taxi Drivers’ Federation and the Taxi and Hackeny Drivers’ Association are to meet tomorrow. These groups are in talks with the Regulator, the ITC are not represented at these discussions.

The protests are expected to continue today.