Limerick taxi drivers picket city ranks over new charges and rules
TAXI services across Limerick are today being affected as hundreds of cab drivers picket taxi ranks across the city.
They are angry over a number of things, including the issue of taxi
licences to part time drivers, a massive 8,233 per cent rise in the
cost of issuing taxi plates - from €3 to €250 - and new rules stating
taxis should be under nine years of age.
And as approximately 100 taxi drivers brought Pery Square to a standstill yesterday - when they decided on strike action today -
Moyross cab driver Pat Walsh was on a hunger strike at the Taxi
Regulator's office in Dublin.
The Concerned Taxi Drivers Association have vowed to continue their campaign until Transport Minister Noel Dempsey sits down with them to
address their concerns.
And city cabbies will get an opportunity to vent their anger at a meeting due to take place tonight at 8pm, in Pery's Hotel.
Speaking to the Limerick Leader, Galvone man Joe McMahon of the
Concerned Taxi Drivers Association said taxi regulator Kathleen Doyle is "crippling" the industry.
"Our industry is being destroyed. The regulator has implemented laws and measures that are crucifying us. She has met us and told us under no circumstances will she change the licence fee. This woman is crippling our industry. She has brought us into liquidation - and she is not going to listen to anyone," he said.
Many taxi drivers said new rules which require on-the-road taxis to be under nine years old will force them off the road - and onto the dole.
Tom Purcell of Garryowen told the Limerick Leader: "I am going to be out of a job. My car's NCT is due now, and as soon as that is up, I am on the dole. She (Ms Doyle] needs to do a vigorous investigation into our industry for the simple reason that our right to earn a living has been taken away. There are too many taxis in Limerick. Where are we
going to get the loans to get a new car from? We are not going to get a loan from any bank if we cannot earn a living."
He added that while doing a 12 hour shift recently, he took home just €25 from fares - with other drivers saying they are in a similar position, as trade has fallen by 40 per cent over the last five
years.
Addressing the crowd, Mr McMahon called for unity, saying: "We have
been through all the channels available to us, and nobody has listened.
Its time for action, its time to put our money where our mouth is. We
have to unite. If we do not do this, we are finished. This is hitting everybody. No-one is making any money.
"You will go back and work 20 hours tonight. But for what? For nothing."
For more on the taxi drivers' protest, see the Limerick Leader City Edition.
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Weather for Limerick
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 13 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 12 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: South east
