The Commissioner for Taxi Regulation, Kathleen Doyle, is expected to reveal long-awaited details of changes to standards for taxi vehicles this morning, in a move which taxi driver representatives claim could prompt industrial action before Christmas.
A spokesman for Ms Doyle declined to comment on the details of today's announcement, which follows a public consultation process earlier this year.
The measures, which are expected to be introduced on a phased basis from 2008 for new licence applicants, are aimed at bringing about a significant improvement for members of the public in the condition and safety of taxis and hackneys.
But taxi driver representatives, who have not seen Ms Doyle's final proposals, say that if they do not differ significantly from those contained in a consultation paper published last December, it is likely to lead to widespread unease within the industry.
Among the changes which this discussion document proposed were a maximum age limit of nine years for standard taxis and hackneys and an annual suitability test for these vehicles.
The document said standard taxis or hackneys should be defined as being at a minimum a four-door, mid-range saloon/ hatchback, estate or multiperson vehicle, with a separate luggage compartment of 420 litres and seating for four adult passengers.
Both John Ussher of the Irish Taxi Drivers' Federation and Tommy Gorman of the National Taxi Drivers' Union said they could not prejudge today's announcement.
But they also said they could not rule out the prospect of industrial action by their members should their views not be taken into account. They highlighted the proposal relating to maximum age limit for vehicles, and the annual suitability test, as areas of particular concern.