Taxi drivers march on Dáil in protest over licences

Taxi drivers marched from Parnell Square to a rally at Dáil Eireann today as part of their campaign to suspend the issuing of…

Taxi drivers marched from Parnell Square to a rally at Dáil Eireann today as part of their campaign to suspend the issuing of new taxi licences.

It is the fourth such protest in recent weeks organised by the newly formed Taxi Drivers For Change.

The group, which has members of all taxi unions, said it had formed to present a united front from all parts of the country in response to the difficulties in the industry and to highlight drivers’ dissatisfaction with the lack of response to their concerns from taxi regulator Kathleen Doyle or Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey.

Group organiser Frank Byrne said Mr Dempsey seemed "unconcerned by the dire financial situation taxi drivers now find themselves in" and said the group would escalate their protests next week.

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"We are greatly encouraged by the increased support we are getting from taxi drivers both here in Dublin and across Ireland," he said.

"It is through the commitment of these drivers that we will continue to seek the suspension of new taxi licences, improved standards and we hope that in the near future we can sit down with the Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey and discuss constructively the future of the taxi industry."

The group will hand in a letter of protest to the Oireachtas and the Department of Transport.