Taxi protest ends after meeting with Cullen agreed

A protest by taxi drivers in Dublin's O'Connell Street came to an end this evening after the Minister for Transport agreed to…

A protest by taxi drivers in Dublin's O'Connell Street came to an end this evening after the Minister for Transport agreed to meet with taxi unions.

Earlier today hundreds of taxis caused severe disruption after parking along O'Connell Street as part of a protest against changes in fare structures.

The meeting with Martin Cullen is understood to be planned for later this week.

Up to 800 taxi drivers caused traffic along the North Quay to slow to standstill during their drive from Phoenix Park to O'Connell Street to protest.

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The strike, which began at 6am and was due to end at 1pm. However, it didn't end and the taxi drivers parked their cars the length of the capital's main thoroughfare and marched down the street.

Leaders of the three taxi drivers unions met Regulator Ger Deering for talks this morning. The Irish Taxi Drivers' Federation, National Taxi Drivers' Union and Siptu represent 14,000 of the state's 17,000 taxi drivers.

Around 10,000 of those have threatened to strike this month during the Ryder Cup golf tournament.

The unions claim the new fare system, which is due to come into effect on Ryder Cup week, will have a devastating impact on drivers' incomes.

It will introduce minimum charges set at €3.80, or €4.10 at premium times, replacing the system where fares were set by individual local authorities. It also sees the abolition of luggage charges and a €1.50 hiring charge for pick-ups from Dublin airport.

The Commission for Taxi Regulation said in a statement that Mr Deering had today "clarified aspects of the new regulations on which representative bodies have raised concerns".

"Among the items discussed were the new national vehicle licensing system including the transfer of licences and dual licensing. Areas of operation for SPSV drivers, the introduction of a skills development programme for all SPSV drivers, the national maximum taxi fare, removal of luggage charges from the national taxi fare and the Dublin airport pick-up charge," the statement said.

"The Commissioner also informed the representative bodies that the Advisory Council to the Commission for Taxi Regulation has requested that as the national maximum taxi fare is new for both industry and consumers, its operation and impact should be monitored on an ongoing basis.

"This is in line with commitments already made by the Commission to the representative bodies that it would review the fare on an ongoing basis."

"The Commission will be constantly reviewing the new national maximum fare and regulatory structure," Mr Deering said.

"This will be given the fullest consideration in consultation with all stakeholders and interested parties. It is the Commission's belief that that the new structures will work to the benefit of all parties."