Taxi drivers to strike next Thursday

Taxi drivers have announced plans to go on strike for three hours next Thursday in protest at the Government's failure to address their concerns following the deregulation of the industry last year.

The three main taxi unions have called on all their members to assemble at the Papal Cross in Dublin's Phoenix Park at 1pm on Thursday.

The taxi drivers will then make their way to the Dail before ending the strike at 4pm.

Taxi unions said the strike was sparked by the lack of progress on a number of issues that were discussed with Transport Minister Seamus Brennan.

These issues include the appointment of a regulator for the taxi industry, the erosion of taxi drivers' incomes, rising insurance costs and the number of full-time workers who drive taxis in the evenings or weekends as a second job.