Taxi-drivers caused widespread traffic disruption in Dublin and at the city's airport as they protested at the Government's decision to deregulate the industry.
Aer Rianta is advising passengers this morning to allow themselves an extra two hours to reach the airport on time. An estimated 45,000 travellers at the airport were affected. Aer Rianta has secured a temporary High Court injunction restraining taxi-drivers from blocking entrances to the airport until today. Passengers were advised to park in the airport's multi-storey long-term car park on the West Link road and walk to the terminal, a journey of up to 30 minutes.
About 1,500 taxi-drivers protested. Some 200 cars, including about 80 which travelled from Limerick, were used to block roads around the airport complex. The most severe blockage was at the last roundabout before the airport terminal. Aer Rianta said its negotiations with the drivers to allow a shuttle bus to bring passengers to the airport were unsuccessful.
Buses were only operating on the old airport road, as far the ALSAA club, where Dublin Bus was advising passengers to walk 20 minutes to the terminal.
In the city centre, Kildare Street was closed at its junction with Nassau Street from early morning. Cook Street and Fish amble Street were also closed. At the evening rush hour, the disruption escalated, but the quays were moving slowly and Winetavern Street had one lane reopened. In Kildare Street, taxi-drivers abandoned their cars and protested at the Merrion Street entrance to the Dail.
The north quays in the city centre were extremely congested as a result of taxis resting on Wood Quay, near the headquarters of Dublin Corporation.
Traffic was further disrupted when taxi-drivers made their way to Liberty Hall for a meeting.
Throughout the afternoon and evening, the M1 was heavily congested and was heavy for outbound traffic, although the hard shoulder was open for emergency traffic. The M1 junction with the M50 was blocked during the evening.
The only way to get to the airport by car was from the M1 roundabout, at the airport, where traffic was moving slowly, said Aer Rianta. It put on extra shuttle buses at the car parks to speed up passenger arrivals and departures. Airport police were also directing traffic yesterday.
The M1 inbound was at a crawl in the afternoon as the taxi convoy moved into the city centre and blocked two lanes. The Naas road and the M50 ring route were also affected.