Second day of chaos as taxi drivers protest over ‘deteriorating conditions’

PARTS of Dublin city came to a halt again yesterday as a cavalcade of disgruntled taxi drivers took their protests to the streets.

Businesses were disrupted and traffic slowed to a snail’s pace along the capital’s main arteries.

Taxi drivers are concerned about deteriorating working conditions in the industry.

It is thought close to 100 drivers were involved in demonstrations on Dublin’s O’Connell Street during a second day of protests.

Traffic was reduced to one lane on either side as drivers refused to budge as part of their protest.

Drivers had originally said they would continue their protest on the capital’s main thoroughfare until they were granted a meeting with Transport Minister Noel Dempsey.

Some taxi drivers who had travelled from different parts of the country slept in their cars overnight and even outside on the pavement.

“We’re here as long as it takes. This thing can all be over in an hour if Noel Dempsey comes out and talks to us,” said driver Noel Moore, lying beside his cab.

But while protests took place, officials within the Department of Transport met taxi representatives behind closed doors. A department spokeswoman said afterwards: “It was a positive meeting. The department is agreeable to having a further discussion with taxi representatives before October 15.”

Despite the protest eventually breaking by yesterday evening, business representatives claimed the actions of drivers had cost the city millions of euro.

The Dublin Chamber of Commerce called on gardaí to prosecute protesting drivers who had blocked the roads.

The Taxi Regulator needed to consider these prosecutions when renewing taxi licences, the chamber said a statement.

Dublin Chamber estimates that the impact of the action taken by drivers in recent days could have cost the Dublin economy as much as €10 million a day.

“Everyone has the right to engage in a peaceful, short protest to bring awareness to the issues affecting them,” said Dublin Chamber chief executive Gina Quin. She said that Thursday night during the road blockage had been a nightmare for the 200,000 people who were commuting home from work.

“The current unofficial protest by certain taxi drivers is excessive and negatively impacting Dublin’s delicate transport eco-system. Those engaging in this militant protest are holding every city centre-based worker, shopper, tourist and business to ransom by blocking the road network,” she added.