Taxi unions disappointed with findings

Taxi Unions say they are very disappointed with the findings of the Government's taxi-hardship panel, which they are describing as totally inadequate.

The report, which was published this afternoon, has found that some people have suffered extreme hardship as a result of de-regulation and should be compensated.

Vincent Kearns of the National Taxi Driver's Union says the amount of compensation allowed is pitiful.

"The highest pay out will be €15,000, which will go to widows, and many of these widows would have lost their husbands to traffic accidents and the like," he said.

"When they inherit their husband's estate they then had to go through probate and in many circumstances widows were forced to pay probate tax on licences valued by the probate officer in the region of €75,000 to €85,000."