Taxi drivers call for immediate appointment of regulator

The latest incidents involving taxi drivers has raised questions about the type of people entering the industry.

Gangland figure, Niall Mulvihill, in his late fifties, was sitting in his taxi on Spencer Dock Quay at 10.30pm last night when he was shot a number of times. He died after crashing into traffic as he tried to make his way to hospital.

Meanwhile, another taxi driver is due to appear in court this morning to face charges of allegedly raping three 20-year-old girls in Rathmines in Dublin in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Taxi unions say a regulator must be appointed immediately to protect the public and the business of the majority of respectable hardworking cab drivers.

One taxi drivers representative Tommy Gorman says as it stands anyone can get behind the wheel of a taxi until the gardai catch up with them.

"Our big problem is that anybody can buy a taxi-licence roof sign for €6,500 from Dublin corporation. He can go to work without showing any qualifications and to us that is a very loose procedure. You can go in, pay €6,500, you get a roof sign and you can go to work until the gardai apprehend you."