The State's advisory body on intercultural affairs is seeking a meeting with the taxi regulator over concerns that some black taxi drivers are being shunned by potential passengers.
The National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI) says a "significant" number of black drivers have reported racist incidents at taxi ranks. The drivers claim some passengers refuse to get into their cars when they are at the head of taxi ranks and some white colleagues are accepting these passengers.
The problem has arisen in Galway, Dundalk, Drogheda and Dublin. One black driver in Dundalk told The Irish Times the problem had worsened lately.
"It happens a lot. You're waiting in the queue, you're number one, then they look in the window, see that you're a black person," he said. "Then they walk off to the next car, who is a white driver, and they take that one."
Another black driver, quoted yesterday by Metro Éireann, spoke of being heckled by fellow drivers who alleged he was not registered to pick up passengers at Dublin airport. "Black taxi drivers feel they are being put in a position of having to defend their right to pick up passengers, even though they are registered and fully insured to do so," he said.
Joe Leneghan, regional development officer at the NCCRI in Dundalk, said the problem arose in Dundalk when allegations were made by white taxi drivers that the numbers of black drivers was adversely affecting their takings.
"They specifically identified black drivers and referred to them as 'an influx of foreign national drivers' having had this impact," Mr Leneghan said.
"But in fact when this is examined, the reduction in fares can be for a variety of other reasons, not least the fact that there has been a bit of a downturn in the economy."
The problems at ranks were due to misunderstandings and the absence of regulation and there was a need for guidance for drivers on the issue, he added.
Tommy Gorman, president of the National Taxi Drivers' Union, defended drivers who accepted fares from those who refused to travel with black colleagues.
"What a lot of people don't understand is, if he refuses he could be prosecuted for refusing a fare. He has no alternative but to take the passenger - nothing to do with him being coloured."
He believed some passengers may have had "previous experience" of immigrant drivers with a lack of local knowledge.
"There's an issue of some non-national drivers not knowing where they are going," Mr Gorman continued.
"We hear stories where people are being brought halfway around Dublin to get home. Not only might they not know where they're going, but they're trying to converse with somebody whose knowledge of the English language is nearly non-existent."
Mr Gorman suggested a practical test should be introduced to ensure all drivers were familiar with their environment before receiving a taxi plate.
However, Mr Leneghan said there was a need for white drivers to show greater support for their black counterparts.
"If people are refusing to take a black driver because of the colour of their skin, then I think that's an issue for everybody, including white drivers. They need to stand up against this form of racism and insist that people take the first taxi."
