FG hits out at taxi-drivers over Ryder Cup strike threat

Fine Gael is hitting out at taxi-drivers for threatening to take strike action during the upcoming Ryder Cup.

Around 1,000 mainly Dublin-based taxi-drivers voted in favour of taking further strike action last night as part of their campaign against a new fare structure.

They say their concerns have not been taken on board, but the taxi regulator says the new fares were drawn up after an extensive consultation process that took everybody's views into account.

The taxi unions say their members could lose up to 10% of their incomes as a result of the new fares, which will lead to the abolition of luggage charges and the special fee for pick-ups at Dublin Airport.

Fine Gael's Olivia Mitchell is appealing to them to reconsider their plans and refrain from causing disruption during the Ryder Cup.

"It would be absolutely unforgivable if the taxi men were to do this at the time of the Ryder Cup, which is a huge showcase for Ireland," she said.

The Lord Mayor of Dublin, meanwhile, has said he very much doubts that taxi-drivers will go ahead with any industrial action during the golfing competition.

Vincent Jackson said today that the action would achieve nothing and the taxi-drivers would gain nothing by taking their frustration out on the ordinary public and visitors to the country.

"I do honestly believe that common sense will prevail and that won't be a situation that will happen on the day," he said.