Taxi-drivers would return to work immediately if the Minister, Mr Robert Molloy, agreed to put a stay on the issuing of new licences while talks went ahead, the National Taxi Drivers' Union said yesterday.
Mr Vincent Kearns, the NTDU vice-president, said drivers were anxious to end the deadlock. "We are all looking for something that would give an opportunity for people to get back to work and a normal living," he said.
This is the 10th day of the strike. Later today Mr Justice Kelly will hear an application by the NTDU for leave to challenge the deregulation decision. According to the NTDU, five High Court actions against deregulation are pending.
Regardless of today's hearing, Mr Kearns said, talks between taxi-drivers' unions and the Government would have to go ahead and would have to be intensive and exhaustive.
He called on the Government to put an intermediary, such as the former ICTU president, Mr Phil Flynn, in place to advance the talks.
While Mr Molloy said his hands were tied on deregulation, the three unions insisted he had flexibility in terms of imposing qualitative measures on the industry. Mr Kearns said Mr Molloy could restrict the issuing of licences if the quality of the service was going to deteriorate.
Mr Jack Nash, the SIPTU regional secretary, said even if today's High Court hearing went against the drivers Mr Molloy would still have to come up with regulations and standards for the industry.
SIPTU members will meet tomorrow to decide on action following the High Court hearing.
Meanwhile, the NTDU has rejected comments by the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, that sick people were suffering in this dispute. Mr Kearns said taxi-drivers had been providing emergency services for hospitals since last Thursday. These taxis carried a sticker saying "taxi ambulance".
