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About 800 taxi drivers who staged a three-and-a half hour protest outside Leinster House this afternoon are to take their protest to Trim Co Meath, next Wednesday.
The drivers, members of the Taxi Drivers for Change movement said they were protesting against a lack of regulation which has seen taxi numbers in Dublin rise to more than 16,000 - which they claimed was in excess of the number plying for trade in new York.
Drivers gave individual testimony to working 16 hour days to earn sums of about 50 euro and called on taxi regulator Kathleen Doyle to immediately publish a report from Goodbody Economic consultants on the state of the industry.
Drivers also criticised Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey who they said had "washed his hands" of their plight and had refused to meet representatives of the organisation.
Now the drivers will take their protest to Mr Dempsey's constituency base of Trim in an effort to force him to consider their demands which include a moratorium on the issue of new licences.
Disruption due to today's protest was kept to a minimum with gardai and drivers working together to coordinate the event. Convoys of drivers left Stillorgan, Liffey Valley and Swords from midday arriving in Merrion Square up to 3.30pm when speeches were made. Committee member Martin Duffy told the drivers: "We might lose a day's pay but what's €60?" He urged all present to travel to trim on Wednesday next, "because if Mr Dempsey doesn't want to see us we can show him there are a lot of people who want to see him".
Some disruption to the evening commute is expected as taxi drivers head back to the suburbs.
