Taxi drivers are to strike next week following a row with the industry regulator, it was announced today.

Taxi drivers are meeting today to discuss the next move in their campaign for a freeze on the issuing of new licences.

THE four main taxi unions meet this morning to review the impact of their protests at the continued refusal by the Government to implement a moratorium on taxi licences.

TAXI unions will meet with Transport Minister Noel Dempsey this afternoon to demand he introduce an immediate moratorium on the issuing of new taxi licences in the industry.

Angry taxi drivers tonight demanded Government intervention after a report rejected calls to cut the issuing of new licences.

THE country’s biggest taxi union has warned that taxi drivers are about to start fighting in the ranks over the number of illegal drivers operating in Dublin.

TAXIS flooded city streets yesterday to highlight what they see as a surplus of licences compared to public demand.

FOREIGN taxi drivers are stirring up racism by giving passengers the run-around, taxi industry representatives have stated.

THE same number of taxis operate in Dublin as in New York — but with only a fraction of the population to support business.

A murder probe was launched today after a knife attack on an off-duty taxi driver, gardaí confirmed.

GARDAÍ are investigating a death threat against a taxi driver who witnessed the horrific murder of a notorious criminal.

Taxi drivers are reportedly seeking to add €1 to every fare in order to cover the rising cost of petrol and diesel.

PETROL and diesel-dependent industries can expect few breaks in the upcoming budget, with the Department of Energy pointing to the development of the biofuels industry as the solution to the surge in oil prices.

Cyclists today called for a plan to curb speed limits in Dublin to be rolled out nationally.

A ROW has flared up over plans to bring Dublin’s gridlocked streets to a crawl by slashing speed limits to 30km/h.

The establishment of the National Employment Rights Authority, and that of Ger Deering as its director, will be welcomed by the trade unions.

The transition to new taxi fares will be difficult because many meters have not been changed, cab drivers said today.

The Taxi Regulator today said he hoped cab drivers would not cause further disruption when more changes to the industry were implemented in the coming months.

The controversial new changes to national taxi fares are due to be formally unveiled by Taxi Regulator Ger Deering later today.

THE threat of further taxi strikes receded yesterday after taxi unions achieved progress in talks with the Department of Transport.

Travellers and commuters can expect a day of traffic chaos today as taxi drivers continue their series of one-day stoppages over new fare structures.

STRIKING taxi drivers will meet the industry’s regulator this morning in a bid to end an escalating dispute over a set of pricing and other reforms, which are due to take effect in a fortnight’s time.

THE taxi drivers are due to strike from 6am today until 1pm in protest against national charges, set by the taxi regulator, who is also outlawing baggage pickup charges. Previously local authorities set the charges.

Taxi Regulator Ger Deering today insisted proposed reforms of the industry would go ahead later this month despite hundreds of drivers blockading his office this afternoon.

Up to 10,000 taxi drivers are today staging a seven-hour stoppage in protest at new fare structures.

The majority of taxi drivers support the controversial scheme to fix a national fare structure, it was claimed today.

ANGRY taxi drivers are to stage a mass protest rally in Dublin in early September over a new fare structure.

Taxi regulator Ger Deering will not attend a mass rally of drivers protesting against new fare structures.

The Minister for Tourism John O’Donoghue tonight appealed for businesses to use common sense when charging visitors during Ryder Cup week.

THE three unions representing thousands of the country’s taxi drivers will meet early next week to decide how much they will disrupt service to the Ryder Cup.

Tens of thousands of spectators attending next month’s Ryder Cup could face transport chaos due to a strike by taxi-drivers, it emerged today.

Up to 1,000 taxi-drivers in Dublin have voted to strike during next month’s Ryder Cup.

Taxi drivers are to stage a 24-hour strike today for the second time in a fortnight.

STRIKING taxi drivers were due to return to work early this morning amidst conflicting views about the success of their 24-hour stoppage.

A 24-hour planned nationwide strike by taxi drivers protesting over a new fares structure is due to go ahead tomorrow, a union boss confirmed tonight.

WHEELCHAIR users in Cork feel like prisoners in their own homes because they are finding it increasingly difficult to get accessible taxi’s to pick them up, it was claimed yesterday.

THREE out of four Irish taxi drivers suffer from high blood pressure and most are unaware that they have a serious health problem, a survey has revealed.

A PROPOSED surcharge on taxi fares to compensate drivers for spiralling fuel prices must be effectively controlled to ensure it is reduced if prices fall, a watchdog said yesterday.

A proposed surcharge on taxi rides to help drivers pay ever-higher fuel costs must be effectively controlled to ensure it is reduced if prices fall, a consumer watchdog said today.

Taxi drivers are installing security cameras and electronic locks to protect against an upsurge in violent attacks from passengers, it emerged today.

GARDAÍ have set up extra patrols to halt an upsurge in attacks on taxi drivers in Dublin, in which guns and knives were used.

TAXI fares will jump 20% unless Transport Minister Seamus Brennan cuts the Government VAT on fuel, it was claimed yesterday.

TAXI fares will jump by 20% unless Transport Minister Seamus Brennan cuts the Government VAT on fuel, it was claimed yesterday.

MOTORISTS were warned yesterday that they face a 4c hike in the cost of a litre of petrol if oil persists at current high levels.