Gardaí have advised motorists to expect traffic disruption in Dublin city centre today because of a protest by taxi-drivers.
Taxi unions expect more than 1,000 drivers to assemble in the Phoenix Park, from where they will drive to the city centre for a demonstration this afternoon. The drivers will park their cars at Merrion Square before walking to Molesworth Street for a rally outside Leinster House.
The protest, to highlight issues arising from the deregulation of the industry in November 2000, is being organised the National Taxi-Drivers Union, the Irish Taxi-Drivers Federation and SIPTU.
Services by members of the three unions, who represent about three-quarters of taxi-drivers nationwide, were also due to be withdrawn for 24 hours from 4 a.m. today.
In a statement yesterday, the Garda said the number of taxis to be allowed into the city centre, by agreement with the unions, was to be limited to 450. However, Mr Jerry Brennan of SIPTU said while it had been agreed that only 450 cars would be driven to Merrion Square, all of the participants would drive from the Phoenix Park into the city.
Mr Brennan said drivers would be calling for a suspension of the issuing of taxi licences, which have increased more than three-fold in Dublin to nearly 10,000 since deregulation. This would allow all parties time to address the setting of minimum standards for people entering the industry.
There had been a "total break-down of order" in the taxi industry, Mr Brennan claimed.
Diversions will be in place around Merrion Square during the protest and there will be parking restrictions in the area from early today.
