Taxi drivers' jobs: Transport Minister must meet drivers

Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh

HAVING pressed the Taoiseach yesterday evening on the need for Government action to protect livelihoods in the taxi industry, Sinn Féin TD for Dublin South Central Aengus Ó Snodaigh today reiterated his call for Transport Minister Noel Dempsey to meet with the taxi drivers.

The situation is very serious. A taxi driver has commenced a hunger
strike to highlight the appalling state of the taxi business.

There is an urgent need for Government action to address the abysmal state
of the taxi industry which has tragically given rise to a high rate of
suicides among taxi drivers. Government must step in where the Taxi
Regulator has failed.

The Transport Minister’s refusal to meet with delegations from the various taxi representative associations is unacceptable. It is simply not acceptable
for him to abdicate responsibility to the Taxi Regulator.  There are issues
which are outside the Regulator’s remit that must be dealt with.

And given the abject failure of the current system of regulation there is also a need for a Taxi Regulator (Amendment) Bill.