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Meeting in Swords today

Roy March 10th, 2010

The Irish Taxi Council decided to use the conclusions set out in the Transport Committee’s report  as their list of demands for the Taxi industry:  (this I would fully endorse)

1. That legislation should be introduced immediately to provide for the introduction of a three year moratorium on the issue of taxi licenses with the exception of the provision of wheelchair accessible taxis.

2. That the Minister’s proposal to subsume the Taxi Regulation Commission into the Dublin Transportation Office be implemented immediately.

3. In view of the inadequacy of taxi ranks in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford the Committee proposes that the Taxi Regulator establish the number of extra taxi rank spaces to be provided in each city in 2009 and 2010 and require those additional taxi rank spaces to be provided by the relevant local authorities.

4. That the Garda authorities be given responsibility for enforcement of taxi driver licensing in association with the Taxi Regulator. That a senior Garda be assigned to this role in each Garda division in view of the fact that the Taxi Regulator has already stated that she does not have enough resources to monitor the situation properly (nine enforcers).

5. That insurance certificates be checked in real time to rule out the amount of fraudulent certificates being presented.

6. That the new national licensing system that was introduced in 2006 which gives each license holder a unique 5 digit license number should include the city of issue.

7. That an authorised company would supply the taxi / hackney plates and roof signs with a security code to ensure that they cannot be copied and that they should be supplied only by N.C.T. centres.

8. That new applicants be required to undergo tests equal to or exceeding the standard required to acquire an Irish driving license.

9. To further improve the standard of service delivered, new criteria should be implemented through the examination process that would include a formal interview and proficiency in Irish or English.

10. That taxi drivers who wish to relinquish their plates should be obliged to return them to the Taxi Regulator at the purchase price. This would eliminate the practice of reselling them through newspapers etc.

11. That in the future the practice of renting or leasing taxi licenses should be discontinued with the exception of car replacements.

This list which has been in the hands of the Minister since last July will be sent along with a 7 day strike notice tomorrow…..hopefully there will be a reaction this time.

Personally I don’t believe the Irish Taxi Council has a mandate to call a strike, but instead will use bully boy tactics to enforce their will on those who might not necessarily agree with them.

Some Pictures from the meeting: (click to enlarge)

Strike?

Roy March 9th, 2010

Received this Email from ITC today:

I really wish they’d use a ballot, drivers are hurting and cannot afford to strike, there are bills to pay and families to feed.

Picture from a bitterly cold  Fitzwiliam Square last night :

The Irish Taxi Council

Email: info@irishtaxicouncil.org

Ph: 087 1471818

Press Release for immediate Release

09/03/10

The Irish Taxi Councils protest has now expanded to include the the withdrawal of taxi services from Dublin Airport,Dublin city ranks, Cork airport, services in Tralee,Killarney waterford and most large towns and cities across Ireland.

The protest will end when the 2 ITC members who are peacefully protesting at the regulators office in Dublin are allowed to use a toilet, get some food and come off a forced hunger strike.

The drivers have not eaten or taken fluids or been allowed to use the bathroom for the last 19 hours

Irish Taxi Council ….Sit in at the CTR

Roy March 8th, 2010

Just received this from Frank Byrne,  looks like they’re not leaving!

Rally outside the Commission at 4pm!

The Irish Taxi Council

Email: info@irishtaxicouncil.org

Ph: 087 1471818

Press Release for immediate Release

08/03/10

The Irish Taxi Council has been informed by three of its executive committee members that following a meeting with the commissioner for taxi regulation they do not accept the outcome of said meeting. They intend to stay and resolve all outstanding issues with the commission for taxi regulation until a resolution addressing the problems of full time taxi drivers is agreed with the regulator and the Minister for Transport.

Bearing in mind the unacceptable state of our industry and the lack of interest being shown by the commissioner and the Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey, in addressing the most important issues concerning drivers it is understandable that this situation has occured.

We appeal to all full time taxi dtrivers in Ireland to support their colleagues who are making this stand on their behalf. There will be a rally held at 35 Fitzwilliam sq at 1600 and every day at the same time until we get what is needed to sort the taxi industry out.

Ends.Ends.Ends.

Briefing:

The Irish Taxi Council is made up of 27 local associations representing full time Taxi drivers in Ireland.It is a legally constituted and democratically elected body that speaks on behalf of full time taxi drivers throughout Ireland. The council is run on a voluntary basis by full time taxi drivers who are not compensated in any way for their time given. The aim and objective of the Irish Taxi Council is to support the rights of full time taxi professionals providing a world class public service in Ireland.

Dublin Street Drivers Association

Roy March 8th, 2010

The D.S.D.A ………not a T in it anywhere!
I know, I can hear you thinking it……….“Not another Taxi representative body”
But think about it, are we non despatch aligned drivers properly represented?

What do we want? STREET WORK!
When do we want it? NOW!

The initial Aims:

  • To free up rank space in the City Centre, to make cruising (Plying for hire) more lucrative, to cut out the need for touting and once that need is reduced to encourage punishment in the form of fines for those that do tout.
  • To highlight the needs of the street workers to the commission

I don’t think drivers that are aligned to dispatch companies would have any problems with the above aims either……….. although dispatch operators might?

How the D.S.D.A plan to achieve our initial aims:

  • We aim to get potential Taxi customers at Dublin Bus stops to hail us as we approach them on inward journeys towards the City Centere
  • We aim to get potential Taxi customers at Aircoach Bus stops to hail us as we approach them
  • We aim to get a seat on the Taxi advisory Council

How?

Easy! We issue each of our members with:

  • A high visibility, switchable green light to place on their Taxi’s roof
  • A Waiver form for each customer to sign
    • Bus stop:  I agree to continue my journey off meter and to pay €3, my destination is  on the Bus route and is no further than O’Connell Street, I expect the driver to stop if hailed until the Taxi is filled to capacity
    • AirCoach Stop: I agree to continue my Journey off meter and pay €20 for a journey no further than Dublin Airport

D.S.D.A believe that if the above is up and running properly there will be work for drivers who wish to Ply for hire in the suburbs, thereby freeing up rank space, thereby reducing the need for touting.

A similar scheme has been running successfully for years with no difficulty  in Belfast.

D.S.D.A believe the scheme to be totally legal and that it would also be good for competition within the Transport industry.

Once the scheme is up and running D.S.D.A will lobby the Department of Transport and the Commission for Taxi Regulation for action to be taken to curb illegal ranking.

  • Double yellow lines on both sides of Wexford street and Camden Street, this will ease traffic congestion and allow the Gardai to issue parking tickets to touts.
  • Demand the use of Garda traffic cones in areas where touting persists. (Dame street, Grafton Street, Dawson Street etc)
  • Demand a seat on the Taxi advisory council as the needs of the non Depsatch aligned drivers are not being heard

Membership of the DSDA: €100 per year, (includes light, waiver cards and advertising costs)

Who is the D.S.D.A?

Nobody,  just a thought in my head, but I’d sure join it if it was real!

That’s the problem with the representative bodies we have now, they spend all their time moaning about what is and no time coming up with solutions to fix it ……we need workable solutions that result in us earning a decent wage

It’s time for ACTION!and I don’t mean stupid strikes……… I mean SOLUTIONS that will have an effect NOW!

We’re dieing out here!

A Conundrum, with thanks to the Commission for Taxi Ragulation

Roy March 7th, 2010

This issue came about in a forum discussion about the new Suitability test.

It seems we cannot get a new car passed through the new suitability test without first having the meter sealed, however we cannot get the meter sealed without first having passed the suitability test.

This reminds me of the never ending staircase:

Hmmmmmmm?, maybe you guys know the answer?

The “Taxi Depot” in Mars (sic) Fairview

Roy March 5th, 2010

Meaghers “The Log Cabin”, on Richmond Road Fairview are starting a Taxi drivers night off event every Monday and Tuesday night, provisionally called the Taxi Depot, but they are willing to change it if someone comes up with a better one.

An Ex Taxi driver known to many of the regulars both here and on the Forum will be playing music that suits the age group I.E. 50’s to 2000’s mostly chillout music that is not too loud and will also give anybody who wants a go a “shot” at Karaoeke as well.
.
There will also be Spot prizes for Trivia quiz/Karaoke.

So if you want a place to have the verbals with fellow Taxi drivers and solve the mysteries of the Universe why not give it a try?

Garda request for Assistance

Roy March 4th, 2010

Request for assistance – Murder at Drumalee Avenue 20/2/10

Gardaí at the Bridewell Garda station are requesting assistance in relation to a murder that occurred at Drumalee Avenue, Dublin 7 on Saturday the 20th of February 2010.

From resulting enquires it is reported that a number of taxi drivers were in the vicinity of the Drumalee estate and the North Circular Road on Saturday the 20th of February 2010.

Detectives at the Bridewell Garda Station are requesting that if possible through your forum taxi drivers could be canvassed as to any relevant information that may be of assistance in this information.

Any information in repect of this matter may be repoted to the Bridewell Garda station at 01-6668200 or 01-6668212 and any assistance would be greatly accepted.

Thanking you in advance

Quick Tip – Fix for Wiper Smear/Squeaking

Roy March 3rd, 2010

Before you go out and change your wiper a little tip I heard about this week and tried might save you the bother:

Baking powder and warm water used to clean both the window and blade, it cleans perfectly and also has the ability to repel water for days after application.

I realise blades are cheap enough and easy to replace, but often the problem isn’t the blade……. its a build up of pollution on the window/blade and baking powder does the job admirably.


Some Interesting Irish Taxi Council Correspondence

Roy March 1st, 2010

These Letters are in chronological order and will be of interest to those of you with 9 year or older Taxi’s, also I believe for the first time ever Ms Doyle has stated that rather than being part of the “Free Market” we are in fact  “ part of the public transport system” Funny enough her second in command states “that the industry now operates within a free market We’ll believe the Commissioner that we are part of the Public Transport System which would suggest the Government should exercise better control over the industry and care for it’s members, at least give us the same protections as Dublin Bus.

__________________________________________________________________________________________


Subject: 9 YEAR CAR
i would like to know who gives you the right  to tell me that the age of my car can not be nine years in 2012 , and then bring it to 2011 .
i took a loan over 4 years ,which takes me up to 2012. I am 30 years driving a taxi and i know that no bank is going to give me a loan until i have re payed in full
so please can you tell me why you said 2012 and then changed to 2011.maybe its because you have a very big bank account and your going to pay off my loan
LOOK FOREWORD TO HEARING FROM YOU
____________________________________________________________________________________________

From: Commission@taxiregulator.ie <commission@taxiregulator.ie>
Date: Mon, Feb 22, 2010 at 1:02 PM
Subject: RE: 9 YEAR CAR

Dear Mr.x

Thank you for your contact with the Commission.

The Commission is focused on raising standards through regulation, licensing and enforcement, taking into account that the industry now operates within a free market.  The latest reforms regarding the nine year age rule are aimed specifically at continuing to improve the standard of the fleet.

The nine year rule has been widely known about for quite a while following the in depth consultation process that began in 2006.  As then the principal facts are that newer cars are inevitably safer and more environmentally friendly. The best a 10 year old car can be is as good as when it was new, 10 years previously.  Vehicle engineering advances, especially in the areas of vehicle stability electronics and structural crash worthiness have advanced at a rapid rate across all vehicle ranges.

The fast tracking of the nine year age rule will facilitate the Commission’s objective of increasing the quality of small public service vehicle (SPSV) services.  The original timeframe for the nine year age rule was 2012, however the number of vehicles older than nine years has increased since the vehicle standards were published in 2007.  The Commission requires to have consistency in the level of newer vehicles available. 25% of the standard taxi and hackney fleet are now over nine years old compared with 16% in 2007.  Fast tracking this will address the age concern.

All taxi and hackney vehicles will be required to meet the nine year age requirement set out in the new vehicle standards, on renewal of their vehicle licence in 2011.  The fast tracking of the nine year rule will increase standards and ensure uniformity by 2011.

Yours sincerely,

Sonia McIntyre

__________________________________________________________________________________________

25/02/10

Ms Sonia McIntyre

Commission for Taxi Regulation

35 Fitzwilliam sq

Dulin 2.

Dear Sonia,

My colleague Mr X has provided me with a copy of his correspondance with you in respect of the 9 year rule.

Just a couple of comments in observation:

1. You mention that the taxi industry is part of the free market economy. As I am qualified in marketing I would like to point out a few relevent points.Free market economic theory states that the product provided by the free marketeer will achieve its place in the market as determined by its quality, price, affordability and attractiveness to the consumer who will buy on the basis of impulse, necessicity. and affordability. If the product does not stand up to the consumers expectations, the consumer will fail to re purchase said product. How does this theory apply to the Taxi industry when it is viewed by the public as part of the public transport system and is not  regulated in a free market way?

Can you explain to us how this theory fits with the present control and regulation of the Taxi industry?

2. As part of the free market economy we are entitled to have the ability to build our asset, on a profitable basis, to enable us to either expand our ability to increase our income/ profit or to sell on our business for a profit. Or to fail in our business opportunity and take the loss.
Please clarify to us how you believe we are in control of this process being that the maximum we can can charge is controlled by your office. In a free market we decide the price and the customer decides whether to pay it or not. In the properly dergulated Taxi market of Sweden this rule applies successfully.
3. Would you mind explaining to us why Mr Andrew Cullen of the dept of Transport qualified to four of the executive committe of the ITC that the Taxi industry was part of the Public Transport system, regulated by qualitive standard only and was not part of the free market economy? (minutes published and unchallenged).
4. How does a 10 year old car that has all of the qualitative measures you describe differ from a 5 year old car that has none? The age does not matter, its the standard that counts. 25 year old taxis are still operating in London acknowledged as the best industry model worldwide.
5. In this nirvana of the perfect Taxi industry that the commission wish to provide who do you think is going to provide that service? The teachers? The postmen? The Army  The firemen? The 9819 paye workers with spsv licenses? the council workers? The public service workers? The multiple licence holders? The asylum seekers?The j2 students? The guys licensed in other areas coming into the cities and towns and jeopardizing the publics safety? The people who have no licenses and are operating anyway?  These are the only people who will have the ability to replace cars and we will end up with the same problem we had when we were regulated ie; no cars during the day and an over supply at night.Do you care? We think not. Who do you think your putting out of the industry with the INTRODUCTION OF THE 9 YEAR RULE AND THE 8000 plus % INCREASE IN OUR RENEWAL FEE? Answer:  Every full time driver that has been providing a world recognised and appreciated service to the Irish and International community ( Irish taxi drivers recognised as the 2nd friendliest in the world).
Once again Ms Mc Intyre you may have tripped yourself up (ref:correspondence with my vice president Mr Brian Mc Carthy and now Mr X member ITC).I would appreciate an answer from the Commissioner herself with regard to the questions posed in this e mail.
With regard to your invitation to a meeting on the 8th of March, our executive committee will meet next Tuesday 2/03/10 and a decision will be made in regard to that. We will inform you immediately following same,
Regards
Frank Byrne
President
Irish Taxi Council.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Subject: RE: 9 YEAR CAR

Dear Mr. Byrne,

I refer to your email of 26th February.

1. The taxi market is now a liberalised market which means there are no quantitative restrictions on entry to the market.   However the role of the Commission is to set quality standards to operate in the market.  The market is determined by supply and demand.  As a public hire vehicle a taxi is part of the public transport system and the Commission promotes the use of taxis to the consumer as a means of transport.

2. The Taxi Regulation Act 2003 provides the Commission with the power to regulate taxi fares.  The fare is a maximum fare and fares have not been de-regulated in Ireland as in Sweden.

3. The Commission cannot answer any questions relevant to a meeting where it was not represented.

4. As explained to you previously a full public consultation process was undertaken prior to any changes in vehicle standards.  Newer cars are better and safer for the environment.  I would refer to you to the Road Safety Authority website which gives some details about safety relative to older cars.

Any other matters you wish to discuss can be raised under Any Other Business on the 8th of March next.

Yours sincerely,

Kathleen Doyle

Commissioner for Taxi Regulation

The Gardai/Enforcers Haven’t got a clue

Roy February 26th, 2010

This is a post that’s been running through my head for a week or so and last nights escapades on the Green with the Enforcers made me finally decide to write it.

Just in case any of them happen to read this
This is an Arse: ScreenShot275

And this is an Elbow: ScreenShot276

They were as usual harassing drivers queuing to get on to the legal ranks, while turning a blind eye to illegal touting outside every pub, takeaway and corner shop in the city.
Don’t they realise that Taxi drivers have two ways of legally getting work from the streets?:

  1. Plying for hire: Where drivers cruise around hoping for someone to Hail them down
  2. Standing For Hire : Where drivers queue at official Taxi stands

Now as there are Taxis parked outside every conceivable outlet where potential customers might appear and the Gardai and the regulator don’t seem give a toss:

  1. There are no customers available to drivers plying for hire ( those drivers that want to ….. cannot ).
  2. There is no need for customers to walk to the legal rank ……….causing the queue there

All of this means there is no way to operate in the city apart from illegally, we have to make a living!

If there is a need for ranks were the illegal touting is now being carried on,  then  install legal ones! But lay off drivers trying to get on to legal ranks, at least we’re trying to obey the rules!

Sort the mess out …………….TOO MANY TAXIS!

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