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.

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

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

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

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.

A row was brewing tonight over plans to bring Dublin’s gridlocked streets to a crawl by slashing speed limits to just 30kph (18.6mph).

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.

NEARLY €350,000 was spent on a botched sticker system for taxis designed to give passengers information on fares and their rights.

AT LEAST 34 taxi drivers have been physically attacked or, robbed so far this year, according to the country’s largest taxi drivers’ union.

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.

Officials at the Department of Transport were today preparing to intervene in the increasingly bitter dispute by taxi drivers against new fare structures.

Taxi bosses said today they would do all in their power to ensure that Thursday’s pending strike does not go ahead.

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.

LEADERS of the main taxi unions yesterday dared regulator Ger Deering to defend his national fares structure in front of angry drivers.

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

TAXI drivers last night put on hold a plan to boycott the prestigious Ryder Cup golf tournament next month.

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.

GOLF fans attending the Ryder Cup in September face the possibility of travel chaos after taxi drivers warned that a work stoppage during the tournament was a possibility.

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.

An overnight strike by taxi drivers has come to an end.

The Dublin branch of the Taxi Drivers Federation will be taking part in a work stoppage over the busy bank-holiday weekend.

THE omens were bad from the start when pictures showed Dessie Dolan bent over in pain from a blow to the privates during the warm-up.

PETROL and diesel prices have edged closer to an average of €1.30 a litre, driven by supply uncertainty on world markets.

TAXI drivers are set to postpone a formal submission for a fare increase until next January after Taxi Regulator Ger Deering ruled out their demand for a 50 cent surcharge to compensate plate-holders for rising petrol prices.

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.

BUS and taxi lanes cannot be opened for everyone to use, taxi drivers warned yesterday as proposals to restructure the industry were announced.

A MAN who displayed on a busy road a sign claiming he had cured both former Taoiseach Charles Haughey and RTÉ’s Northern Correspondent Tommy Gorman of cancer appeared in court yesterday.

TAXI unions have accused Transport Minister Seamus Brennan of running a red light with his decision to make the wearing of seat belts compulsory for drivers from this Thursday.

The Minister for Transport, Seamus Brennan, has introduced tough new measures to crack down on rogue taxi drivers.

The National Taxi Drivers’ Union has reacted angrily to the news that only 49 taxi drivers will receive deregulation compensation payments before Christmas.

THOUSANDS OF taxi drivers are to stage a 24-hour strike in protest at the Government’s failure to address their grievances over deregulation.

Taxi drivers in Dublin are to stage a work stoppage in two weeks' time, over what they say is a lack of progress in appointing a regulator for the industry.

TAXI drivers are being attacked three or four times a week and the number of assaults is growing, union representatives have warned.