Losers in taxi deregulation seek EU backing

CLOSE to €50 million has been amassed from the sale of taxi plates since deregulation, it emerged as a top level EU delegation arrived in Ireland on a fact-finding mission.

The delegation, members of the European Parliament’s petition committee, are to meet today with Transport Minister Seamus Brennan to discuss the effect of overnight deregulation on taxi drivers and their families. The members will report back to the full committee.

Campaigners are hoping the government will be pressured into increasing compensation for drivers, their families and widows. Dublin City Council has collected €36m from the sale of 6,000 plates, yet, says Cathy Darling, of Families Advocate Immediate Redress (FAIR), the total hardship package offered is just €13m. The all-Ireland total is likely to be close to €50m.