Taxi drivers to block O�Connell St in protest escalation

**BohsPartisan** · 14/09/2006, 2:11 PM

I don't think they will get too much sympathy either. Unfortunately that won't be down to the rights or wrongs of the situation but more to do with the general attitude problems some of them seem to have.

**Lionel Ritchie** · 14/09/2006, 3:09 PM

Originally Posted by BohsPartisan

Farmers did it with their tractors. There was also a motor insurance justice action group protest that did much the same thing.

Just on the actual issue, I read an article in yesterdays indo that said it was about the regulator wanting to reduce taxi fares and also about the DAA banning the luggage charge from the airport. If this is the case I can see their gripe. Fuel costs are rising and every other business seems able to pass this cost onto the consumer. The rise in the price of crude oil must be hitting Taxi's pretty hard. The other issue is that they have to pay the DAA to use the airport taxi rank. They used to offset this cost with the luggage charge. Now they are refusing to pay the DAA the charge for using the rank. Thats fair enough IMO.

Glad you finally got around to familiarising yourself with some of the details pertaining to this. Though in truth -the thread is specifically about their blocking O'Connell St. as part of their protest -which according to their own union leaders they weren't supposed to do.

On the broader issue of their dispute - I have a little by way of sympathy for the taxi drivers. They asked for a regulator because they saw their quango was unsustainable and they hoped he'd at least limit access to their trade and shore up their stranglehold on the public for a bit longer.

He then makes a move to sort out inequities and inconsistencies in their pricing structures and they spit the dummy out.

I'd like to see reform of Irelands entire PSV sector go much further. I've never understood for the life of me why the smallest taxi you see on the road is an Avensis and why the most common are big dirty beamers, boras and the like.

In our relatively small cities we should have fleets of three passenger mini-cabs. I remember being on holidays in Morocco and they'd graded cabs -small ones (Clios and 207s) that could take three passengers for run around spins and larger ones that, like ours, take four for airport runs and the like. It would cost three people less to get a smaller one from the suburbs into town than it would for the three of them to hop on a bus.

**pete** · 14/09/2006, 3:12 PM

Originally Posted by Lionel Ritchie

In our relatively small cities we should have fleets of three passenger mini-cabs. I remember being on holidays in Morocco and they'd graded cabs -small ones (Clios and 207s) that could take three passengers for run around spins and larger ones that, like ours, take four for airport runs and the like. It would cost three people less to get a smaller one from the suburbs into town than it would for the three of them to hop on a bus.

Where does the luggage to the airport go?

As a collective body the taxi drivers have scored more own goals than anyone else. Sure they even caused deregulation themselves by challenging the Ministers authority to issue licences.

**John83** · 14/09/2006, 3:25 PM

The airport pickup charge and the luggage fee are different issues Bohs Partizan. The real issue they have is the drop in the base fee (not sure of the name, but the amount on the meter when you sit down) for country taxis.

**BohsPartisan** · 14/09/2006, 4:00 PM

OK was just going by the article in yesterday's paper. I understand both sides of the arguement. Yes Taxi's are bloody expensive, a Rip-Off if you like but on the other side fuel price rises must be severely affecting the Taxi drivers' ability to make a living.

**Ringo** · 14/09/2006, 8:50 PM

http://www.taxiregulator.ie/taxi/publisher/index.jsp

The following are the grievances of Taxi Drivers regarding the imminent changes to the taxi industry announced by the Taxi Regulator

http://www.ntdu.com/index.cfm/loc/1/...DD95DD7679.htm

Non Negotiation of Changes Within the Taxi Industry

The Taxi Regulator has refused to negotiate on any part of his "Driving Forward Plan" with any representative body. This plan affects the livelihood of taxi drivers nationwide and nobody can negotiate on their behalf.

New Numerical System

This means that each county in Ireland looses their individuality and passengers will not know when they step into a taxi what area the driver is licenced to operate in. This change has been introduced against the wishes of taxi drivers.

New National Taxi Fares System

Previously local authorities set the fares for each area. The regulator has now taken over this function. The taxi representative bodies requested the regulator to retain local variations as it is unfair to ask taxi drivers in small towns to operate the same system as in major cities in Ireland.

Removal of Two Months Grace

Previously taxi drivers who were ill or out of work due to accidents and widows of taxi drivers who had licences rented out, all had two months grace to renew their vehicle licence. The representative bodies asked the regulator in increase this grace period, particularly for the sick and elderly but he did not listen to the representative bodies. The new regulations now say if your licence is out of date by one day you must pay a restoration fee of €500.

Tamper Proof Stickers

The new regulations require that taxis have tamper proof stickers in the front and back windscreen of the taxi. If a child or anyone else pulls these stickers off it costs €50 to replace, despite the fact they cost less than €5 to make.

Removal of Airport Pickup Charge

The airport pickup charge is presently €1.50, €0.70 is paid to Dublin Airport Authority and €0.80 to the taxi driver. This results in the passenger having a taxi waiting outside the Terminal building to take them to a destination of their choice. If taxis were not there the customer would have to phone a taxi and pay a €2.00 pick up charge.

Luggage

Customers are presently asked to pay €0.50 per item for the first two items. The rest of the luggage is carried free. The regulator has decided to remove the €0.50 charge, while at the same time Aer Lingus has announced a charge of €8.00 per item. Some airlines charge €25.00 to carry golf clubs.

Enforcement Officers

Nine enforcement officers are being employed by the taxi regulator, issuing on the spot fines of €250. What other sector has such high on the spot fines?

**pete** · 14/09/2006, 10:33 PM

Originally Posted by Ringo

Nine enforcement officers are being employed by the taxi regulator, issuing on the spot fines of �250. What other sector has such high on the spot fines?

What other industry has so few regulators i would say. I saw a taxi with 25,000+ on its roof tonight. I inspector for almost efetruy 2,800 taxis? With so few inspectors i'd guess at 20 inspections a day will take 6 months for each taxi to be inspected.

All taxis are by law expected to print out an automatic receipt yet i'd guess 1 in the last 20 taxi i took did that.

Taxi drivers don't know how good they have it

**BohsPartisan** · 15/09/2006, 8:18 AM

Originally Posted by pete

What other industry has so few regulators i would say. I saw a taxi with 25,000+ on its roof tonight. I inspector for almost efetruy 2,800 taxis? With so few inspectors i'd guess at 20 inspections a day will take 6 months for each taxi to be inspected.

All taxis are by law expected to print out an automatic receipt yet i'd guess 1 in the last 20 taxi i took did that.

Taxi drivers don't know how good they have it

Its par for the course. We have fck all labour inspectors too. Look at how many people are working and the number of employers in the country compared to the number of inspectors.

I would sympathise with many of those grievances all the same.

**Ringo** · 15/09/2006, 3:39 PM

Originally Posted by BohsPartisan

Its par for the course. We have fck all labour inspectors too. Look at how many people are working and the number of employers in the country compared to the number of inspectors.

I would sympathise with many of those grievances all the same.

they seem a bit petty to me. i'm sure an NCT disc or tax disc only cost a few cents, but a lot to replace. They can choose to boycott the airport, if its such a bad deal. They are getting extra to cover the loss of the small fees, which they'll get even if your not carrying a bag. why are they afraid of enforcement officers?

**pete** · 15/09/2006, 6:49 PM

Saw taxi with 29,000 on his plate today so clearly a lot of people want to work as taxi drivers. Amazing they tried to convince us only needed 3.000 plates before - even if they being sued in 3 shifts means now have 300% increase in taxi drivers.