The linking of the taxi shortage with four recent killings in Dublin has been strongly rejected by Dublin taxi-drivers and their unions.
Mr Vincent Kearns, vice-president of the National TaxiDrivers' Union, claimed the linking of the murders with taxi-drivers amounted to incitement to hatred.
Mr David Keating, who was knocked down and killed by a motorist early on Sunday morning following an argument, had been walking home because he could not get a taxi, according to Fine Gael TD Mr Gay Mitchell.
Mr Mitchell had been contacted by the parent of a girl who had been in Mr Keating's company earlier that night. The girl's father had expressed his concern over the lack of taxis which forced people to walk home.
Mr Mitchell had said there were increasing attacks on young people on the streets of Dublin and many of them were walking because they couldn't get a taxi.
Mr Brian Murphy and Mr David Langan were killed in separate incidents in August and September after student discos.
Mr Langan had been walking home while Mr Murphy had been waiting for a taxi when they were caught up in violent incidents.
In June, Mr David Richardson was seriously injured in a racially motivated incident as he neared his accommodation. He had been walking home with his family because they could not get a taxi.
However, taxi-drivers said they could not be held responsible for the Government's failure to co-ordinate public transport.
"Taxi-drivers cannot be blamed for everything that goes on in this city," Mr Kearns said.
"What's being said is nothing short of incitement to hatred. The taxi industry is only there to enhance public transport."
Mr Kearns accepted there was a shortage of taxis but said, under the Dublin Taxi Forum, there would have been 350 more taxis on the streets of Dublin if Minister of State for the Environment Mr Bobby Molloy had not introduced a new plan for 3,100 taxi plates.
This took precedence over the Taxi Forum agreement but Mr Molloy's plan was frozen in February when it became the subject of a High Court challenge by hackney drivers.
The judgment is expected in the next few weeks but even if it was not subject to an appeal, it would take several months for the new taxis to arrive on the streets of Dublin.
"There's not a hope that they will be ready for Christmas - it will be March," Mr Kearns said.
Mr Mitchell said he did not believe the High Court case restricted the Minister from liberalising the taxi regime. However, a spokesman for the Minister rejected this and said Mr Molloy could not act.
Mr Kearns said the Government should sit down with taxi-drivers and bus and train operators to come up with a plan to co-ordinate night services.
"At the weekend we had over 350,000 people in the city of Dublin, brought in by bus, DART, train and lifts. After 12 o'clock, taxis are expected to wave a magic wand and bring everyone home safely," he said.
The National Youth Council has criticised the shortage of late-night transport in Dublin. Mr Eamon Waters, a spokesman for the group, said it should not be considered a luxury to get a taxi home after a night out.
Meanwhile, SIPTU's regional secretary, Mr Jack Nash, criticised Mr Mitchell for his remarks. "We are calling on those elected representatives who are making such outrageous statements to be more thoughtful in where they wish to apportion blame for violence on our streets," Mr Nash said.
