Gardaí are warning motorists that a protest by taxi drivers could lead to serious traffic congestion in Dublin tomorrow.
A large number of taxi drivers from the non-union lobby group Taxi Drivers for Change will are understood to be planning to converge on the Taxi Regulator 's office at Fitzwilliam Square.
Members of the group will meet at the Airways retail park in Swords and travel into the city centre along the M1 at about 8am. At the same time, a second batch of drivers plan to travel along the M4 from their meeting point at the Liffey Valley shopping centre
The taxi drivers will also stage a protest in the Parnell Square, O'Connell Street and College Green areas, with drivers intending to drive in a continuous convoy up and down O’Connell Street.
A Garda spokesman warned rush hour traffic many be seriously affected, adding that parking restrictions will be in place in the Fitzwilliam Street, Fitzwilliam Place and Merrion Square areas until the protest ends in the early afternoon.
Meanwhile, Siptu taxi drivers plan to protest at Dublin Airport between 7am and 11am tomorrow.
Both groups claim the escalation of action is in response to a recent economic review of the industry by Goodbody consultants that rejected calls to cap the issuing of new licences.
Frank Byrne, of Taxi Drivers for Change, said the driver's arrival at Fitzwilliam Square is intended to coincide with representatives from Goodbody attending the Office of the Taxi Regulator, Kathleen Doyle.
It is the second major convoy by the group which formed eight weeks ago to highlight the plight of drivers on low incomes. "Last time we got about 2,500 cars involved and we expect it to be a bigger protest this time because of the publication of the Goodbody report," he said. "It didn't address drivers worries or concerns by drivers or their families."
Mr Byrne said the drivers would finish the protest as early as possible to assist in the Irish Cancer Society's national fundraiser Daffodil Day.
Jerry Brennan, of Siptu's taxi drivers branch, said its group decided to resume its campaign at Dublin airport after considering a meeting with the Taxi Regulator last Friday. He claimed union leaders were informed there will be another nationwide consultation process with all the interested parties that will take 12 to 16 weeks.
"This would take us well into the busiest season of the year," said Mr Brennan. "Everyone knows the issues and the Goodbody report has absolutely no credibility with those working in the industry. We totally reject the notion that people should be expected to work longer, harder and for less pay ad infinitum.
"There is also the important question for us of having an appeals system in place to protect our members' rights, not to mention the health and safety implications of the Goodbody approach, for the travelling public as well as our members."
Representatives from Goodbody and taxi representatives will be among those attending the Advisory Council to the Commission for Taxi Regulation (Advisory Council) tomorrow.
Meanwhile, a protest by SR Technics workers is also expected to cause traffic disruption tomorrow morning. The protesters will march from the Coachman's Inn in Cloghran at 11am to the old North Terminal in Dublin Airport. Passengers flying in and out of Dublin Airport have been warned of possible delays.