Cabbies still fighting lost deregulation battle

A FEW years back the taxi industry, in a bid to put a sheen on its tarnished image, published a glossy plan called Green Light For Change which sought to underline the humble cabbie’s contribution to society.

Published in the middle of their fight against de-regulation, it was full of warm language about welcoming change and keeping taxi drivers’ international reputation for efficiency and friendliness at the heart of transportation in the city.

The crowning line had to be the last sentence which gushed: “It is our hope to contribute to a solution to all our transport problems in the new millennium and continue to do what we do best. To serve.”

Yesterday afternoon the National Taxi Drivers’ Union sought to create traffic chaos in Dublin’s city centre on the second anniversary of deregulation, which has seen the number of plates increase from 2,722 licence holders to 9,062 as of Tuesday.

Deregulation has meant that for once anyone waiting for a cab during the Christmas period will not have to spend a bone-rattling hour or so in the vain hope a taxi will come by.

It also means people won’t have to risk walking long and dangerous distances home at night at a time when the number of random and unprovoked assaults is spiralling out of control.

And furthermore it means once the taxi regulator is set up - details of which were announced earlier this week - customers will be able to have confidence in the safety of their transport.

Despite the obvious benefits, leaders of the taxi industry encouraged hundreds of drivers to clog up the streets in protest over deregulation yesterday and a number of other issues such as “double jobbers”, erosion of income and rising insurance costs.

Drivers, of course, have some genuine grievances and no one is saying they shouldn’t have the right to strike - but most of the issues of contention are being dealt with by Government.

A €13m taxi hardship fund is to be established to help those affected by deregulation. No such fund was set aside for pharmacies also hit by deregulation.

A taxi regulator, one of the taxi unions’ key demands, is to be established next year to ensure high standards are maintained in the industry. The issue of motor insurance is being tackled through the Motor Insurance Advisory Board.

Which brings us back to why they are protesting: deregulation.

The highest courts in the land have ruled that the industry cannot be propped up by control of who gets licences and must be open to full competition.

Indeed, unlike almost any other profession, licence holders benefited for decades under a protected market which kept competition at bay and allowed them to clean up.

Many drivers’ declarations of income in the past have been minimal, figures from the Revenue Commissioners suggest.

One of the industry leaders was yesterday claiming that since deregulation, one-in-five drivers has a criminal record while the number of alleged rapes and sex attacks by taxi men has soared.

This is genuinely disturbing - but it’s naive to think this wasn’t a problem before deregulation. And it’s misleading to think that de-regulation is necessarily attracting a greater proportion of criminals.

In essence, taxi industry leaders are still arguing over a decision that cannot be reversed and need to catch up and adjust to the new industry.