Union leaders call for moratorium on new taxi licences

Dublin taxi-drivers gathered outside the Dáil this afternoon to protest at the impact of deregulation on the industry.

Union leaders handed a letter into the Department of Transport demanding a moratorium on the issuing of further licences until a regulator is in place.

The protest was organised by the three main taxi unions - the Irish Taxi-Drivers' Union (ITDU), the Irish Taxi Federation (ITF) and SIPTU.

Mr Vincent Kearns of the ITDU said: "We will continue to protest until the moratorium is placed on the issue of further licences and they can lift the moratorium as soon as we have a functioning regulator."

"One thing we would make clear to the Taoiseach is live up to your promises. The people in this country are sick of false promises and we want to see action," he continued.

Speaking outside the Dáil, Mr Kearns said there were around "9,800 taxi-drivers in Dublin, over three times the European averge". "About 3,000 of these are full-time employees in other employment" he added.

Dublin taxi-driver Mr David Meade said he was sick of seeing the taxi industry becoming a "dumping ground" for other industries.

He said: "You do not open the floodgates and walk away. This government has walked away from the responsibility they owe to me.

"I am entitled to a decent living. The only thing I'm asking for is a moratorium to be put in place until this total disgraceful situation is gone."

This afternoon the city centre became blocked when around 1,500 taxis drove through Dublin from the Phoenix Park, along the quays towards Merrion Square.

Earlier Gardaí and union leaders had agreed that around 500 taxis could park in Merrion Square where the drivers then proceeded on foot to the Dáil.

Outside the Dáil the drivers were addressed by Labour leader Mr Pat Rabbitte.

"The present Taoiseach has been part of the problem rather than attending to the solution," he said."If the Taoiseach hadn't led the leaders of the taxi unions up the garden path it would have been sorted out at Dublin city council many years ago, the manner in which it has been handled now has caused serious grievances to people within the industry."