Taxi drivers plan protest campaign

TAXI drivers attached to the country’s largest trade union are to begin a rolling campaign to protest against what they claim are the disastrous consequences of deregulation.

The drivers decided, at a meeting yesterday, on the withdrawal of services at various venues from next Monday.

SIPTU official Jerry Brennan said an action committee has been set up to organise the details of the protests, where and when they will take place.

The action is being taken, said Mr Brennan, because of “frustration and anger” among members at false promises made by the Government over concerns raised about public safety, the lack of an industry regulator and compensation for drivers.

Action will continue until Transport Minister Seamus Brennan addresses these concerns, union officials for the 2,000 full-time drivers vowed.

The union official said: “The industry is in a state of collapse. Safety and standards have completely collapsed. The public no longer have a safe service, drivers are not making a viable living and it’s making it difficult to maintain good vehicles.”

Mr Brennan also dismissed the Transport Minister’s proposal for an industry regulator. He said the regulator would have non-statutory powers under the proposal and it could take up to 18 months for legislation giving it real powers to pass through the Dáil. The minister's office said it is planned to have the legislation in place by the middle of the year.

“In the meantime, the industry continues in crisis,” claimed the SIPTU official. At the very least, drivers argue, there should be an immediate ban on the issuing of any more new licences, a move transport officials say is impossible as the High Court ruled this illegal.

The meeting was called prior to the shooting dead of underworld fixer and taxi driver Niall Mulvihill, which raised serious concerns about safety standards in the industry.