OVER 1,000 taxi drivers gathered in the Point Depot last night to protest at Dublin Corporation plans to introduce 200 new taxi plates at £25,000 each.
The mood at the meeting, organised by taxi drivers' unions, was anger as a handful of city councillors defended their decision to introduce the new plates and raise the licence fees for taxis from £100 to £750 biannually. Some 52 councillors and two officials were invited to the meeting buy only seven turned up.
After angry exchanges, the drivers called on the corporation to rescind the controversial motion. They also called on the corporation to halt the issue of hackney licences which, they say, are threatening their jobs.
Dublin Corporation is now issuing 35 hackney licences every week since it lifted its moratorium on selling the licences two months ago.
"Taxi men are in a state of shock as a result of the proposals," said Irish Taxi Drivers' Federation president, Mr John Ussher.
Cllr Claire Wheelar, confessed she did not realise she was voting for 200 new plates when she supported the proposal. She thought she was voting for 150.
"We provide a good service, said Mr Michael Clarke. "But what do we get in return? We get to drive the drug addicts, we get stuck with syringes. We are the ones who have to drive around the city at all hours of the night, not knowing who or what is sitting beside us.
Taxi drivers have planned another rally in the Phoenix Park next Wednesday afternoon, after which they will deliver a letter of protest to Fine Gael and Labour party headquarters.