The taxi-drivers have no argument with the ordinary travelling public. They are their customers and livelihood. In fact, their aims are the same, a taxi service which we can all be proud of and which will work to the benefit of the consumer and the taxi industry.
Our argument is with the Government and, more specifically, with the heavy-handed approach adopted by Bobby Molloy in announcing his so-called deregulation package without first consulting our representative bodies. Had a more conciliatory and consultative approach been adopted, then the current strike and resulting conflict could have been avoided entirely.
Our first bone of contention is the very use of the word "deregulation". It is a red rag to every taxi-driver, as it has been shown over and over again not to work in their industry, wherever in the world it has been attempted. Even the current measures proposed by the Minister do not constitute deregulation as such, but a reregulation of the market, as statutory regulations in many areas will still pertain.
It is with these statutory regulations that the answer to the dispute lies. The Government is adamant that no quantity restriction can be placed on the number of licences, but many other measures could be taken to protect the current taxi-drivers' interests and at the same time deliver what the public demands, namely an efficient, modern taxi service.
The drivers feel that the Progressive Democrats are trying to score political points by allowing new applicants to enter the market with ordinary saloon cars, simply because they gave an undertaking to have extra licences on the road for Christmas.
Only for this, it is generally felt that all new applicants would have been obliged to supply wheelchair vehicles.
This in itself would have softened the blow for many taxi-drivers, as it would have ensured that any new licence-holders were prepared to make a substantial investment in the industry, and also allowed for a more gradual influx of new taxis into the system.
Taxi-drivers also feel it is unfair on current drivers to oblige them to change over to wheelchair vehicles in 2003. To tell a person who has already invested £80,000 and upwards in the purchase of their licence that in three years it will be necessary to put themselves further in debt to the tune of £30,000 beggars belief.
Holders of the "old-type" licences should be allowed to continue to use ordinary cars. Not only would the public continue to have a choice between a car and a "van" - and many older people, in particular, find the new vehicles very difficult to get in and out of - but this would also mean the "old" licences would retain some sort of transfer value.
Some sort of compensation package could then be implemented to make up the difference between the old and the new value of the plate.
Widows and retired taxi-drivers would also be able to receive some sort of continuing income out of leasing out these plates, or to sell them on at retirement, which would alleviate much hardship.
Another major stumbling block is that taxi-drivers who sold their plates at vast profit will now be allowed to re-enter the industry for a fraction of the cost. Such people should be disbarred from entering the trade again by a "back door".
All new applicants should have to provide both a tax clearance certificate and clearance from the Social Welfare before being issued with a plate, to discourage part-timers and "cowboys" from entering the profession. This could also apply to present licence-holders when they renew their licences.
The Minister's insistence on pressing ahead with the issuing of new licences is incensing the drivers. This, above all else, has the potential to further inflame an already extremely volatile situation and could lead to further violent confrontations if and when the first new licence-holder ventures on to the streets.
Des Geraghty of SIPTU has already called for an assurance from the Minister in this regard while negotiations are taking place, but to date this has not been forthcoming. Better the existing fleet of 2,720 taxis on the road for Christmas than the small number of new licences that could be processed in the short period left before the festive season.
If handled in a proper fashion, this current dispute could end up being the best thing ever to happen to this beleaguered industry, but the Government must adopt a more flexible approach, and work in conjunction with the unions and representative bodies to make this happen.
Ken Johnstone works as a taximan in Dublin and is a member of SIPTU