Taximen pledge to continue protests

TAXI leaders have warned they will stage further public protests if Transport Minister Seamus Brennan fails to address issues of concern they raised with him during talks yesterday.

Hundreds of taxi drivers withdrew services in Dublin for three non-peak hours, complaining their livelihoods have worsened over the two years since deregulation.

Taxi numbers in the capital rose from 2,722 to 8,609 - a 216% increase - amid claims of "double jobbing" against new entrants. The number of taxis has gone from 4,000 nationally to 12,000 in 18 months.