Sir, - To all journalists, builders, secretaries, managers, writers, farmers and indeed nearly all workers competing for jobs in Ireland today, competition is a reality. To most this is not a problem, it is the basis of capitalism, one of the fundamental building blocks of our society. As everyone employed in the above occupations knows, there is not a single institution, organisation or individual in this country willing to guarantee your business by limiting the competition. If a factory worker is late and sloppy repeatedly, he pays the price, often with his job. If a large company comes into difficulty and needs to be wound up, the workers, managers, investors and creditors all pay dearly.
This trait of enterprise and employment seems universal. But if you're a taxi driver in the city of Dublin you have the government of our nation ensuring that no matter how late, rude and over-expensive you are, you still have as many customers as you can manage.
Just a few weeks ago I was up in Derry and while there, three friends and I got a taxi into the centre of the city. The taxi cost just £2.80 sterling for a journey taking nearly ten minutes. No extra charge for four people. No extra charge for it being late on a Saturday night. How much would the equivalent taxi journey cost in Dublin?
I'm not blaming the Dublin taxi drivers and I'm certainly not requesting more controls of taxi costs or standards. But competition should be there to benefit the consumer. Demand for taxis in Dublin is enormous. Do we not have unemployed people in this country? New licences should be issued immediately to anyone wanting one, with no cost and no conditions attached. - Yours, etc.,
Emmet Stokes,
Ashford, Co Wicklow.