Dublin taxi drivers will next week step up their protest against the apparent decline in standards being applied by the authorities when issuing taxi licences.
They are calling for a moratorium on the issuing of all public service vehicle licences until regulations have been established and are being applied across the board to all licence applicants.
Between 9 a.m and noon yesterday some 74 members of SIPTU mounted protests at Dublin Airport, Heuston Station, Connolly Station and Busarus. Drivers refused to pick up passengers at these places. The protest followed similar stoppages on Monday between 9 a.m and 1 p.m and Tuesday between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. Next week the protest will be held at the same times at the same locations as well as on Thursday between 9 a.m and noon, Mr Jerry Brennan of SIPTU said.
"Unlike in the past where we have had all-out stoppages, our members have learned from the past and we plan to continue these stoppages, slowly but surely extending them until the Minister listens to our case."
He said he planned to meet the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, on Monday to discuss the drivers' concerns.
"What we are concerned about is the ability of taxi-drivers to continue making a decent living."
He said reports of attacks by drivers, of alleged rapes and other criminal activity was giving an impression to the public that taxis were unsafe and unreliable.
"These reports are having a direct impact on the earning ability of our members," he said.
He said he was sure people were inconvenienced by the drivers' protest yesterday.
"But inconveniencing the public is not the object of the protest. The object is to draw the Ministers' attention to our concerns and indeed to what is happening in the industry."
The National Taxi Drivers Union instructed its members not to take part in the action.
