DUBLIN taxi drivers are to challenge the City Council's decision to increase taxi licence fees and issue new licence plates. They will consider further protests at a meeting next week.
Yesterday afternoon hundreds of drivers gathered in the Phoenix Park to hear speeches from representatives of their three unions. Up to 1,000 taxis followed a delegation to the Civic Offices at Wood Quay, causing traffic jams along the quays.
A list of the 27 councillors who had voted in favour of issuing the 200 additional plates and the increase in the two yearly "licence fee from £100 to £750 was handed out to drivers in the Phoenix Park.
People in the crowd shouted down one driver who suggested that a street protest would "make more enemies than friends".
In a statement yesterday, a member of the Commission on the Status of People with Disabilities praised the council's decision that the 200 additional taxis would have to be accessible to wheelchair users. Mr Frank Mulcahy said that he had waited for up to 1 1/2 hours in the centre of Dublin for a wheelchair accessible taxi.
Addressing the Phoenix Park protest, the president of the Irish Taxi Drivers' Federation, Mr John Ussher, told the crowd that he was taking legal advice on the validity of the council's decision. He said that an amendment tabled by Mr Eric Byrne (DL), seconded by Mr Pat McCartan, had never been put because Mr Byrne had been absent from the room.
Mr Byrne had proposed that the licence fee be increased to £200 and that only 100 new licence plates should be issued.
Last night, Mr Byrne said he would be challenging the minutes of last Monday's council meeting if his amendment was not voted on. He said his absence should not have affected the amendment to the motion being put to the floor and he would seek to have the decision overthrown at the next council meeting.
Mr Ussher said that the taxi unions had invited the councillors who voted for the measures to a meeting next Tuesday.
Some drivers warned that yesterday's traffic disruption was only the beginning of their protest. Mr Stan Darbey, a driver who suggested that street protest was not the way forward, was booed.
"My suggestion to you militant men is to forget about blocking the streets", he said. "As and from next Monday, withdraw your labour, and not just for an hour or a day. I mean to the bitter end."
Mr Ussher delivered a letter to the principal officer at Dublin Corporation's traffic department, Mr Cyril Meehan. About 200 taxi drivers crowded into the offices to wait for Mr Meehan to collect the letter. It was accepted finally by the assistant city manager, Mr Derek Brady.
The demonstration was peaceful, despite a brief stand off when drivers alleged that gardai policing the protest had put parking tickets on their taxis.
