TAXI REGULATOR Kathleen Doyle has said she will not be influenced by yesterday’s taxi protest which resulted in an almost complete withdrawal of taxi services nationally.
The Irish Taxi Drivers’ Federation, National Private Hire Taxi Association, Siptu taxi branch, and Taxi Drivers for Change took part in a protest from 4am yesterday to 4am today over conditions in the industry.
The National Taxi Drivers’ Union was not officially part of the protest as there was not sufficient time to ballot members under its union rules. However, most members did not work, in solidarity with protesters.
Irish Taxi Drivers’ Federation president John Ussher organised the protest because of what he said was the failure of Ms Doyle to address the concerns of drivers. Drivers say the industry has become overcrowded and are seeking a halt to the issuing of new licences. Earlier this month a report by Goodbody Economic Consultants, commissioned by the regulator, recommended against a moratorium on new licences.
Ms Doyle has begun a consultation process on the report. However, Mr Ussher said this was just a delaying tactic to avoid dealing with drivers’ concerns.
“There are major problems in this industry. All she’s doing is delaying dealing with these problems. That is why we’ve reacted the way we have today,” he said.
Ms Doyle said she was very disappointed by the protest, particularly when she was engaging in consultation on the Goodbody report.
“Recent and planned future industrial action is counterproductive and succeeds only in giving a negative impression of the industry to consumers and causing drivers and operators to lose income.”
Some 37 taxi ranks in Dublin and more than 20 around the country were yesterday occupied by members of Taxi Drivers for Change, who used their vehicles to take up space on ranks, but were not taking fares. Drivers occupying the College Green rank, one of the busiest in the country, said no taxi drivers had tried to join the rank to ply for hire yesterday.
“There have been a couple of people who came and picked up fares beside us, but very few. I think even drivers who aren’t getting involved realise we’re doing this for their futures,” Patrick Loughrey of Taxi Drivers for Change said.
