Disruption and bully-boy tactics once again informed the behaviour of Dublin taxi-men as they blockaded Leinster House yesterday and prevented elected representatives from entering the building. The intimidation was aimed directly at the Coalition Government and at Minister of State, Mr Bobby Molloy, who is dealing with the licensing system. On their way to the Dail, the protesters refused to accept Garda directions and broke through a barricade at Kildare Street. The situation was particularly tense because a group of women and children in buggies was leading the protest and there was a danger they might be injured against crash barriers. In spite of those incidents and a Government warning that talks would only take place in the absence of blockades, Mr Molloy met the leader of the protesting drivers to listen to their demands and to outline the Government compensation proposals.
All but the most inflexible and obtuse taxi-men must now realise that the days of their closed shop, with its powerful political patronage, are over. A ruling by the High Court ordered the deregulation of the industry. Subsequent actions by the Coalition Government sought to give effect to that judgement. Following yesterday's meeting between Mr Molloy and the taxi-men's representatives it was agreed that further dialogue should take place in the context that the government decision to deregulate should stand. Taxi drivers have also sought a High Court declaration that would have the effect of quashing the new regulations made by the Government. A hearing of the case is expected next Friday.
Undoubtedly, cases of hardship flow from the move to deregulation. Some individuals, who purchased plates for large sums of money, stand to lose substantially under the compensation terms originally announced by the Government. There were different reasons for this: private arrangements for the purchase of taxi plates; failure to declare capital gains on the transfer of licences; less than compliant income tax behaviour and the time-frame being contemplated for capital write-offs. All of these issues are capable of resolution, given a reasonable approach. The Government should, however, draw the line between fairness and munificence. There is no reason why all licence holders, who paid different amounts of money at different times for their plates, should benefit equally. After all, taxi-men are not being deprived of their livelihoods.
There will still be a degree of regulation. Taxi charges will be monitored. Local authorities will grant licences to taxis and hackneys to operate within their areas. The quality and type of vehicles will be specified and the standards of insurance cover listed. Drivers will have to reach certain standards of competence in motoring skills and knowledge of their areas. And a criminal record will be a bar to entry. Deregulation does not mean a free-for-all, although it does mean more taxis and greater competition. Taximen should look to the future and to a better relationship with their customers, rather than demand the reinstatement of unwarranted privileges.