Taxi drivers challenging state liberalisation of market

Taxi drivers are challenging the liberalisation of the market 13 years ago, in a test case for damages that affects 1,200 drivers.

The High Court was told taxi drivers suffered a financial catastrophe overnight as a result of the unlawful and unfair liberalisation of the licensing regime and are entitled to damages.

Drivers who bought licences for as high as €100,000 had their constitutional rights to property, equal treatment and to earn a livelihood breached when the value of those licences was wiped out overnight in Nov 2000, counsel Michael Collins said in a key test-case.