Taxi move: Minister breaking spirit of Good Friday Agreement on jobs for ex-prisoners

» John Hedges

An Phoblacht Editor

‘Many former prisoners covered under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement are taxi drivers who have never had any trouble in this job and are hard workers who provide an important service.’

TRANSPORT MINISTER Alan Kelly is breaking the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement by refusing to amend new legislation that could bar political prisoners freed as part of the Peace Process from being taxi drivers, Sinn Féin TD Dessie Ellis says.

Speaking on the 15th anniversary of the signing on 10 April 1998 of the Good Friday Agreement, the Dublin North-West Sinn Féin TD appealed to the Labour Party minister to reconsider.

Dessie Ellis (pictured right) said:

“Many former republican and loyalist prisoners covered under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement are currently taxi drivers. Most have never had any trouble in this job and are hard workers who provide an important service.

“New legislation proposed by Minister Alan Kelly would mean these drivers would have their livelihood put at risk as they could potentially be barred or suspended from operating their taxis. These drivers are already struggling in the harsh economic climate to put food on the table and a roof over their families’ heads.

“These proposals are totally against the spirit of an international agreement this state signed up to and which was ratified by the Irish people.”

Dessie Ellis says he has already raised this with Minister Kelly “but he refuses to deal with the issue”, adding:

“He has a responsibility to legislate with the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement in mind. I call on him to reconsider and make the relevant amendments.”