A return to normal taxi services looks likely, following a recommendation from the two main taxi-drivers' groups that members go back to work later today.
The Irish Taxi-Drivers' Federation and the National Taxi-Drivers' Union will ballot their members between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. today at Malahide, Co Dublin. A spokesman for the ITDF said he hoped members from all over the State would vote.
"The ballot will be a choice between a return to work or continuing with our withdrawal of services," a joint statement from the two unions said. "As a result of court developments and a meeting with our advisers, we are now recommending a return to work with effect from 6 p.m. on Saturday, December 2nd, 2000."
SIPTU, representing the third group of drivers, will hold a meeting with its members at Liberty Hall, Dublin, at 11 a.m. today. The NTDU is the largest taxi-drivers' union, with an estimated 2,200 to 2,500 members. The SIPTU group is the smallest, with an estimated 800 to 1,200 members.
In the High Court yesterday, Mr Justice Kelly began hearing an application by the NTDU for leave to challenge the deregulation of the taxi industry.
Mr John Rogers SC, for the NTDU, argued that Minister of State Mr Bobby Molloy should not have revoked the statutory instrument which introduced the plan for over 3,000 new licences while a Supreme Court appeal by taxi-drivers was pending.
He said this action made the taxi-drivers' appeal moot because the regulation in question had been revoked.
Mr Rogers said deregulation would seriously jeopardise his clients' right to earn a livelihood as it effectively reduced the value of licences to nil. The hearing resumes on Tuesday.
Mr Tommy Gorman, NTDU general secretary, said the union was pleased at the way the case was going. "The legal team is putting in a great effort and we hope for success on Tuesday," he said.
Taxi-drivers in Waterford returned to work on Wednesday and are seeking a meeting with Waterford Corporation. Mr Barry Manto, chairman of Waterford Taxi Association, said the meeting was being sought to discuss the deregulation issue and to ask the corporation to send a letter opposing deregulation to Mr Molloy.
The Waterford group represents 33 taxi-owners and is affiliated to the NTDU. There are 39 taxi plates, and 80 taxi-drivers, in Waterford. It was willing to accept a maximum of 10 more taxi plates in Waterford.
The Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs has rejected claims from taxi-drivers that the Government ordered staff to turn down applications for supplementary welfare allowances from drivers in financial difficulties.
A spokeswoman for the Department said taxi-drivers in financial difficulties were fully entitled to apply for a supplementary welfare allowance, or for an exceptional needs payment if necessary.
She said taxi-drivers were self-employed and so were not regarded as being on strike by the Department. Drivers seeking assistance would be means-tested on the past 12 months' earnings and if they were entitled to assistance, they would receive it, the spokeswoman said.
