Taxi union warns of ‘fisticuffs’ over illegal drivers

THE country’s biggest taxi union has warned that taxi drivers are about to start fighting in the ranks over the number of illegal drivers operating in Dublin.

Tommy Gorman of the National Taxi Drivers Union said: “Legal drivers are getting ready for fisticuffs and that’s when the real trouble will start.”

The issue is the number of drivers who are operating illegally in the capital and elsewhere in the country.

They often operate off a license issued to another person even though they have no entitlement to drive the cars themselves. There are now so many, Mr Gorman claims, that they are forcing legal taxis out of business.

He said gardaí carried out a concerted weekend enforcement operation to detect illegal cars last week. Gardaí carried laptops on which they could verify if drivers had licences.

“All the illegals disappeared from the streets. The ordinary drivers were able to get more fares and finish up at a more respectable time,” said Mr Gorman.

“We have now sent a strong message to the Taxi Regulator Kathleen Doyle that she better do something about this business. She has to admit there is a problem and put a moratorium on the issuing of new licences until that problem is sorted out. What is the point in issuing licence after licence in this climate? Are they going to wait until someone is hurt on the rank before they act?”

Mr Gorman also called on the Department of Social and Family Affairs to tighten guidelines on drivers with licences claiming social welfare. This is in response to what he says are increasing instances of drivers claiming to work for a small number of hours each week while claiming the dole, though in reality they are driving many more hours.

The taxi regulator has put the onus on the public not to use taxis that are illegal.

“The Commission for Taxi Regulation would like to remind all consumers that when paying for a journey in a vehicle they should first ensure it is licensed to operate,” a spokeswoman said.

“Each licensed taxi, hackney and limousine has a tamper-proof disc on its front and rear windows confirming the licence number of the vehicle, the registration number of the vehicle along with the number of passengers it is licensed to carry and the expiry date.

“In addition each licensed taxi driver was issued with driver identification, which includes a picture ID for display on the dashboard.

“Any complaint made to the commission is taken seriously and investigated,” the spokeswoman said.

* www.taxireg.ie