DUBLIN taxi drivers claim new rules requiring drivers to change vehicles that are more than nine years old will force some out of business and others to buy cars that are inferior to their existing vehicles.

THE number of people applying for taxi licences has decreased dramatically, in spite of the wholesale job losses across the economy.

ONE in five taxi drivers are not tax compliant, according to the results of recent multi-agency checkpoints designed to target possible offences by part-time drivers.

Taxi drivers will have to display roof signs naming the county in which they are licensed to operate in.

THE taxi regulator has moved to quell public safety fears by insisting all drivers legally on Irish roads have passed stringent Garda vetting checks before entering the profession.

TAXI driver groups have given a guarded welcome to a series of reforms for the industry announced by the Commission for Taxi Regulation.

The Commissioner for Taxi Regulation Kathleen Doyle is denying that new measures announced today are designed to reduce the number of taxis and hackneys on the country's roads.

The Taxi Regulator Kathleen Doyle says there has been a sharp decline in the number of applications for taxi licences.

Representatives from four organisations representing taxi drivers have handed in letters of protest and petitions to the Department of Transport.

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

TAXI drivers have warned older members could be pushed out of the industry if they are forced to sit a tough new exam system announced by the Commission for Taxi Regulation.

TAXI drivers have been warned they risk a criminal prosecution if they attempt to illegally poach fares from people waiting at bus stops.

Motorists in Dublin are expected to face traffic chaos today as thousands of taxi drivers mount two separate protests.

Motorists will face traffic chaos tomorrow as thousands of taxi drivers stage two separate protests in the capital.

Taxi drivers have threatened to hold the biggest protest the country has ever seen if their demands for a moratorium on the issuing of licences are not met.

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.

TAXI drivers have claimed the industry is in crisis due to the rising number of plates being issued and lack of taxi rank spaces in the leading cities and towns.

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.

TAXI fares will be 8.3% dearer from November 1.

Drink drivers have been targeted in a hard-hitting campaign launched today by road safety and taxi chiefs.

TAXI drivers will this morning petition regulator Kathleen Doyle to have a deputy taxi regulator appointed to Munster.

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 number of taxis operating in Ireland could be capped, it emerged today.

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

THE Commission for Taxi Regulation would like to place on record a clarification in respect of comments attributed to a spokeperson from Shannon airport in a story headlined ‘Airport Taxi Service closed shop’ (Irish Examiner, February 19).

CORK taxi drivers held crisis talks last night ahead of a crunch meeting with the industry regulator.

Unions representing taxi drivers are criticising new reforms of the industry published by the Taxi Regulator today.

DISGRACED college lecturer Dr Niall McElwee is at the centre of a new Garda investigation, it emerged yesterday.

ABOUT two complaints a day are being made against taxi drivers, new figures revealed yesterday.

Around two complaints a day are being made against taxi drivers, new figures revealed today.

Taxi unions have expressed concern about the news that the regulator for their industry is leaving to take up a new state job.

TAXI drivers have expressed disappointment at the sudden resignation of the country’s first taxi regulator in the middle of a series of often controversial reforms of the industry.