Dublin taxi-drivers are to stage a one-day strike next Thursday. They are protesting against a decision by the four local authorities in the area to increase their annual licence fee from £100 to £450. They are asking the Minister for the Environment to re-assume responsibility for the licences, which was devolved to local authorities by the last government.
The president of the Irish Taxi Federation, Mr John Ussher, said yesterday the strike would begin at 4 a.m. on Thursday and continue until 9 p.m. Emergency cover will be provided for dialysis patients and the transportation of blood and blood products between hospitals.
Advertisements will be placed in the national newspapers outlining the drivers' grievances, according to Mr Ussher. They also hope to see the Minister, Mr Dempsey, although no appointment has been made yet.
A spokesman for Mr Dempsey said the setting of fees had been devolved to local authorities and it was now for Dublin Corporation and the three other authorities in the capital to decide what to charge.
Mr Ussher said drivers were also objecting to the cost of licences for 200 new taxi plates for Dublin. These taxis must be wheelchair-accessible, and the licence will cost £1,500 a year.
Dublin taxi-drivers are split into a number of associations, but Mr Ussher said his understanding was that there would be complete solidarity on Thursday. "I don't know about hackneys, we have nothing to do with them."