Dublin Chamber of Commerce has added its voice to those calling for the deregulation of the taxi service, saying that the city is being "suffocated" by "an inefficient and outmoded transport system".

The six-page report, "Taxi Services in Dublin - A New Approach", recommends that instead of "the current administrative fragmentation", an independent body should take responsibility for the service. "In order to find a fair solution for those who have invested in taxi plates, a phasing out period of a suggested three-year duration would be implemented," the report states.

It refers to a study published by Trinity College economists last week, which puts a cost of more than £12 million annually to the Dublin public of the current taxi shortage.