Taxi drivers were back on the streets of Dublin yesterday protesting about a number of issues: the Coalition Government's failure to appoint a statutory regulatory authority for taxis, hackneys and limousines; the reduction in drivers' earnings; the level of compensation offered to the holders of pre-November, 2000, taxi plates; and other matters. Some of the complaints are valid, but there is also a deal of special pleading and an unwillingness to accept that the old "closed shop" for taxis in Dublin was both damaging and unsustainable.
The Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, has sought to create an impression of activity and has spoken of passing legislation before the summer recess. But the Dáil will rise in three weeks. And the promised Bill was only approved yesterday by Cabinet. In such circumstances, Mr Brennan's ambitious reform agenda appears to be impractical. Last November, when taxi drivers previously protested in Dublin, the Minister promised to address their grievances as a matter of urgency. An interim National Taxi Regulator was appointed the following February, but on a part-time basis and without statutory powers.
Legislation is now urgently required to replace the old system of licensing and regulation, involving the Garda Síochána and the Carriage Office at Dublin Castle. The Minister for Transport has acknowledged the seriousness of the situation; he has described the current position as a "jungle-type operation" and said people should feel safe when hailing taxis at night.
In all of this, the concerns of the public must be accorded priority. For years, Dublin was subjected to a hugely inefficient, infrequent and expensive taxi service, courtesy of successive governments, where an artificially limited number of taxi plates changed hands at exorbitant prices. Deregulation has allowed the number of licence-holders to grow from 3,000 to 10,000 in less than three years. There has been a considerable improvement in average waiting times. But, as taxi numbers increased, consumers complained about dirty, run-down cars, abusive and inconsiderate drivers, and widespread over-charging. There has also been a handful of cases involving assault and even rape. Last year, the Carriage Office revoked 11 licences.
Taxi drivers' claims that it was not their intention to disrupt traffic in Dublin yesterday are risible. But their proposal for the immediate appointment of a statutory agency to regulate the industry by setting fees, issuing licences, establishing standards for vehicles and drivers, and implementing a wheelchair accessible policy is reasonable. However, their demand for compensation in excess of that recommended by the Taxi Hardship Panel, because of personal financial difficulties resulting from a fall in the value of their licence plates, is unlikely to be accorded priority by the Government. These are not new problems. Mr Brennan has been in office for a year. The delay in bringing forward legislation is unacceptable.