Taxi Regulator Gerard Deering has called on taxi-drivers not to go ahead with a planned one-day stoppage on Monday and said their action would have "no effect" on the new national fare.
Drivers plan to go off the road from 5am on Monday to 5am on Tuesday over what they say is the failure of Mr Deering to recognise their concerns, particularly about the abolition of certain charges. The action has been organised by the three main drivers' unions, the Taxi Drivers Federation, the National Taxi Drivers Union (NTDU) and Siptu, who between them represent 14,000 of the 17,000 taxi-drivers in the State.
The unions want Mr Deering to reconsider the abolition of luggage charges and a €1.50 hiring charge for picking up passengers at Dublin airport. The changes are due in September when a new national taxi fare comes into force.
The new fare involves a minimum charge of €3.80, or €4.10 at premium times, followed by distance or time- related charges, with no additional fare charges. It replaces a system where taxi rates were decided by local authorities.
NTDU president Tommy Gorman said drivers had agreed to the new rates even though some would face a drop in money, but felt it was unfair that charges were being abolished, particularly when the Dublin Airport Authority charges drivers 70 cent to pick up passengers.
"We realise we can't get everything we want, all we're asking is for Mr Deering to come back to the table, but there seems to be no going back with Mr Deering."
Mr Deering said yesterday that he had always been willing to talk with the unions, and has met them on numerous occasions, but there had already been an extensive consultation process on the new fare structure.
"For the unions to be trying to negotiate the fare at this stage shows a lack of understanding of the regulatory process. We can't go back negotiating one particular element now," he said.
Many drivers had already programmed the new fares into their meters in advance and it was "not possible to go back now", Mr Deering said.
He added that he would "not be swayed" by any action the drivers took next week and asked them not to inconvenience the public.
"The only people this will affect are the drivers, who will lose income, and passengers. It will have no other effect."
