Taxis threaten Stormont blockade in rules row

More than 250 taxi drivers are threatening to blockade Stormont as new regulations governing cabbies go before the Assembly.

The drivers, all members of the T&G section of the union Unite, claim Minister for Environment Arlene Foster has refused to meet them to discuss their concerns over the proposed legislation.

The Taxis Bill – which goes through its second stage in the Assembly today – is intended to further crack down on illegal cabs and to increase regulation of the legitimate operators and their vehicles.

However, the drivers claim the proposed laws will result in a free for all and that ultimately passengers will lose out.

Those protesting claim, if passed, the bill will drive the disability-accessible black cabs off the roads and give illegal taxis free rein.

Regional organiser for Unite Sean Smyth said the union had proposed nine key points to radicalise services, but that the minister had refused to meet the ’black cabbies’ to discuss their concerns.

He said: “The drivers nine proposals are very realistic and plans for the future of the industry are very achievable.

“If these proposals going through Stormont are allowed more than 450 disabled taxis are going to be taken off the streets of Belfast overnight.”

Mr Smyth said their suggestions were very clear. “Every taxi must be disabled-accessible and every driver must be trained and all enforcement laws must be carried out by the PSNI, the DOE and taxi drivers’ representatives.”

Later, Paul Butler (Sinn Féin, Lagan Valley) puts forward a private members motion urging the assembly to support the long running campaign by college lecturers for pay parity with school teachers.

Employment and Learning Minister Reg Empey is fully behind the pay claim - and even has the money to pay it – but is unable to do so because of British chancellor Gordon Brown’s restrictions on public sector pay awards this year.

The Executive fears if it did pay the award in full there would be high level repercussions and it could suffer financial penalties.