Hundreds of workers fed up with Dublin's traffic gridlock have been buying taxi licences so that they can travel in the bus lanes, it was claimed today.
It emerged after Ryanair boss Mr Michael O'Leary came under fire for allegedly "buying his way" out of the city's gridlock by investing in taxi plates for his Mercedes. It was revealed yesterday that Mr O'Leary bought the plate from Westmeath County Council last month for €6,300.
Taxi industry chiefs said solicitors, accountants and even a washing machine repair man had been exploiting the Republic's licensing laws.
"O'Leary is the first high-profile case to come to light but we have seen solicitors, accountants and people from all professions doing it," said Mr John Ussher, president of the Irish Taxi Drivers' Federation.
"There is no way of knowing how many people have been doing this - it is possible it could be in the hundreds."
Mr Ussher said the Ryanair boss was "giving the two fingers" to other motorists. "Someone like O'Leary coming up and passing by cars stuck in traffic jams is a disgrace.
"Not only is it offensive to people in the business, it is also offensive to every motorist on the roads. It is equal to giving the two fingers to everyone else.
Owners of taxi plates can beat the gridlock by flying through restricted access bus lanes, along with police officers, ambulances and government ministers. Since the deregulation of the taxi industry there has been nothing to stop the practice.
The only catch is that if the vehicle is hailed and is not carrying a passenger the driver is legally obliged to pick them up.
"There are quite a number of people who have availed of this loophole," said Mr Vinnie Kearns, vice-president of the National Taxi Drivers' Union.
"We have had it down to small operators, we've had a washing machine repair man arrive at a house driving a taxi. I am sure quite a number of tradesmen also use this loophole."
Labour's transport spokeswoman, Ms Roisín Shortall said Mr O'Leary was turning his nose at the travelling public. "The whole idea of bus lanes is facilitate the speedy transport of public transport vehicles and for that reason taxis are able to use them as well as buses," she said.
A spokeswoman for Ryanair confirmed Mr O'Leary had gained the licence, as reported at the weekend. "What Mr O'Leary does privately is up to him," she said. "To the best of my knowledge it is true and what was reported is correct."
Mr O'Leary registered the vehicle to a firm called Tillingdale Ltd, a spokeswoman for Westmeath County Council said.
A Department of Transport spokesman said moves were being made to close the loophole allowing the practice to take place. "At the moment it is quite legal to register for taxi plates and use them in this way," he said. "There are various rules and criteria, but it has been happening for some time. Part of the brief of the new taxi regulator will be to tighten up the law."