Taxi deregulation protest on

THE number of taxi licences in the country has trebled since deregulation of the market exactly two years ago.

Taxi drivers are to protest in Dublin today to highlight a number of issues, despite Transport Minister Seamus Brennan’s announcement of the appointment of a taxi industry regulator.

Figures compiled by the Department of Transport showed taxi plate numbers nationally have risen to 11,630 this month from 3,913 in November 2000, prior to liberalisation.

The National Taxi Regulator will be appointed next February and the agency will control the taxi, hackney and limousine service market and set national taxi licence and related fees.

The new regulator will also decide upon a uniform colour for vehicles and set a dress code for taxi drivers.

The regulator will control the issuing of licences to the industry following consultation with the gardaí as well as setting standards for drivers, training and vehicles.

Approved by the Government this week, Minister Brennan said the Office of National Taxi Regulator will aim to provide a professional, efficient and customer-friendly service.

Funding has been allocated in the Book of Estimates for the setting up of the regulator and the office will operate on a non-statutory basis.

The announcement of the appointment of the regulator has followed consultations with industry representatives. But taxi drivers are set to bring traffic to a standstill in Dublin city centre today.

National Taxi Drivers Union general secretary Tommy Gorman said the unions did not want to disrupt traffic and although hundreds of taxi would be involved in the protest, only 40 taxis would wind up at the final destination outside Dáil Éireann.

The protest marks the second anniversary of taxi deregulation. The taxi drivers want the Government to prioritise the number of double jobbers, reductions in incomes and increases in insurance costs.

The minister said the taxi industry had undergone a dramatic change since the High Court judgment in 2000 created the legal position that limiting of taxi licences in the interests of existing licence holders could not be sustained.

“It is now time to bring forward legislation that will bring stability to the industry, develop a proper and effective structure, establish lasting career opportunities for all those involved, and offer the customer a service that is modern, efficient and operated to the highest standards,” he said.

The Taxi Advisory Council, comprising of industry representatives, gardaí, consumer groups, disability lobbyists and business, tourism and transport bodies, will advise the Government and the National Taxi Regulator but will not have the power to make policy decisions.

Minister Brennan has received the report of the Taxi Hardship Panel and it is being considered by the Cabinet before publication.