UNIONS REPRESENTING taxi drivers are to meet the Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey, next week to discuss the industry following protests yesterday over what drivers claim is an oversupply of taxi licences.
The number of taxi licences has increased from about 4,000 to 26,000 since deregulation was introduced in November 2000.
Drivers say the market has become saturated, and it is impossible for a full-time taxi driver to make a living. They also claim their concerns have been dismissed by taxi regulator Kathleen Doyle.
Ms Doyle reiterated yesterday that it was not in her remit to cap licences.
Many drivers took to the streets yesterday in an unofficial dispute to demonstrate the number of taxis currently operating.
Traffic in Dublin city centre did not show signs of unusual disruption at the planned time of the protest between 9am and 1pm. However, shortly after 2pm several hundred taxis drove along College Green sounding their horns.
In Cork city, drivers queued at ranks to highlight their numbers.
Cork drivers said they were making up to 50 per cent less since the industry was liberalised. Many claimed to be working up to 80 hours a week to pay bills.
National Taxi Drivers Union president Tommy Gorman said a meeting with Mr Dempsey was scheduled for next week.
"We have been pencilled in to meet the Minister early next week, and we hope to be able to talk to him in a reasonable manner about bringing in legislation to put a moratorium on the issuing of licences."
He said the union was not seeking a return to the pre-deregulation situation where licences changed hands for tens of thousands of euro because of a cap on their numbers and that each licence could be transferred back to the regulator if a driver left the industry.