Taxi unions consider legal action against the state
Taxi drivers and their unions are considering a legal action against the state to challenge legislation regulating the industry. A number of taxi drivers have made donations to pay for a legal team to research the case for a class action, on the grounds that 1978 laws which regulated the industry were unconstitutional.
Tommy Gorman, National Taxi Drivers Union (NTDU) president, said Limerick solicitor s McMahon O’Brien Downes had been hired to examine a possible case. ‘‘This goes back to 1978,when restrictions on taxi licence numbers were first introduced. Things are only at an early stage yet, but if a strong legal challenge could be mounted, we will take it,” he said.
The taxi union chief called for the Public Service Vehicle licence exam - under the remit of the Garda Carriage Office - to be made more extensive. According to Gorman, there have been reports from taxi ranks that some Irish and foreign taxi drivers who have recently gained licences do not have an in-depth knowledge of the areas in which they are working.
‘‘The current test is only about 12 pages long, and that includes questions on rules of the road and PSV regulations. I think this test should be extended for both non-national and Irish drivers, so they are better equipped to do their jobs,” Gorman said.
Kathleen Doyle, the deputy Commissioner forTaxi Regulation, said the test for the PSV licence was expected to be transferred to the Commission by the end of 2007, and that it would be made more extensive overall.
Last week marked the end of the public consultation period on vehicle standards. ‘‘The granting of a licence with then be more skills-based, and will include knowledge on health and safety, good business practices and route selection. We are hoping it will also be VETAC-accredited, so it becomes a qualification,” Doyle said.
The commission has received 285 complaints about taxi drivers since it was set up last September. Most of them concerned overcharging, driver conduct, car cleanliness and problems with bookings.
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