IRELAND: SIPTU-represented taxi-drivers are planning to hold a series of disruptive actions when Ireland takes over the EU presidency next month, in protest at deregulation of the industry, writes Joe Humphreys
Mr Jerry Brennan of SIPTU said yesterday "it was a question of when rather than if" industrial action would take place, in view of the "general disquiet and discontent among full-time drivers.
"The suggestions coming from our members is that any action should coincide with significant dates in the EU presidency, and particularly when EU delegates are arriving into the country."
The union is seeking compensation for drivers whose plates were devalued under deregulation, claiming "most drivers" have been excluded from the taxi hardship panel due to strict eligibility criteria.
SIPTU, which claims to represent 2,300 full-time drivers, has asked the National Taxi-Drivers Union (NTDU) and the Irish Taxi-Drivers Federation to support its planned disruption next month.
However, Mr Vincent Kearns, vice-president of the NTDU, said it believed it had to give the newly-formed National Taxi Council a chance to deal with its grievances before taking industrial action.
Heads of State and Ministers are unlikely to be affected by any withdrawal of service as they will be served by a fleet of Audi vehicles, to be driven by Army, Garda and privately-hired drivers, under a €3 million sponsorship deal announced this week.