Taxi protests are set to escalate following the refusal of Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey to reject a report which recommended against a moratorium on the issuing of new licences.
Taxi drivers’ unions today met with Mr Dempsey following the publication of an economic review of the industry carried out by Goodbody Economic Consultants on behalf of the Taxi Regulator.
The report rejected drivers’ demands for the issuing of new licences to be suspended, and for a new system of regulation for the industry. While it conceded drivers had to work longer hours to make a living it rejected their claims that earnings in the industry had collapsed.
Siptu, the Irish Taxi Drivers' Federation (ITDF) and National Taxi Drivers’ Union (NTDU) described today’s meeting with Mr Dempsey as very disappointing.
“For our members certainly it could be described as a non-event. He did not offer any solution or resolution to the problems our members face today,” Siptu branch organiser Jerry Brennan said.
The unions collectively asked Mr Dempsey for a moratorium, even as a temporary measure, until a solution to the current problems could be achieved, but the Minister would not consider such a move, Mr Brennan said.
“His position remains the same as when he wrote to me last October and said he wouldn’t even contemplate a moratorium. He’s not going to back on that.”
ITDF president John Ussher said he left the hour-long meeting without any hope for his members.
“I’m very disappointed. We went in looking for a solution to our immediate problems but we didn’t come out with anything.”
Mr Ussher said the Minister told the unions he intended to consider the report in full and advised them to do likewise and not just focus on the issue of the moratorium.
“The main recommendation of the report is that no moratorium would be put on licences, and I can’t see any other way forward except a moratorium,” Mr Ussher said.
Mr Dempsey has urged the drivers to present their views on the report to the regulator through the Taxi Advisory Council, a group chaired by former Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne.
NTDU president Tommy Gorman said drivers were in a financial crisis now and could not afford further delays before a solution was reached.
“Going to the advisory council is a drawn out process, and we don’t have time for that we need something done immediately. We might have had some hope if the Minister had said to us today that he would give a temporary moratorium, but unfortunately he didn’t do that.”
The unions are to meet tomorrow morning to discuss what action they will take on foot of the Goodbody report. Drivers for Change, a campaign group which was not invited to yesterday’s meeting said it would continue its planned series of protest marches.
A spokeswoman for Mr Dempsey said he intended to consider the Goodbody review, the regulator's view, the view of the Oireachtas Committee on Transport along with the views of the recognised representatives of the taxi industry.
