Irish Taxi Forum
Public Area => Taxi Talk => Topic started by: watty on April 28, 2021, 05:12:41 pm
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This is a bizarre story in The Indo. Anyone hear of an actual protest being planned? And what was it about?
Sounds like Richard Boyd Barrett started it all by saying the Guards had banned a taxi protest tomorrow. Mattie McGrath then jumped on board and did the Nazi comparison. MMMMartin was suitably outraged.
Gardaí say taxi drivers took decision to cancel their protest after Mattie McGrath’s Nazi comment in Dáil (https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/gardai-say-taxi-drivers-took-decision-to-cancel-their-protest-after-mattie-mcgraths-nazi-comment-in-dail-40366284.html)
Gardaí have said taxi drivers took the decision to cancel their protest after claims in the Dáil that Garda Commissioner Drew Harris had banned the event. Responding to news of the “ban”, Independent TD Mattie McGrath asked: “Are we going back to Nazis, or Hitler’s time? What the hell is going on here? “We need to pull up Drew Harris. He is our Garda boss man, but I don’t like the antics. This is driving people away from supporting the gardaí.” His comment were branded as “disgraceful” by Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
However in a statement this afternoon An Garda Síochána said the decision not to go ahead with the protest was made by the taxi drivers. It said senior management in the Dublin Metropolitan Region “engaged with the groups planning this protest”. “Following this engagement, it is our understanding that these groups no longer intend to go ahead with their protest. This is entirely a matter for those groups.” It said there had been no enforcement activity by An Garda Síochána in relation to these planned protests. “To be clear, and as stated publicly on multiple occasions, An Garda Síochána has no role in licensing or approving protests. In other words, An Garda Síochána cannot ban protests. “In line with public health advice and public health regulations, in the first instance, An Garda Síochána would ask people not to organise or attend such protests.2
It added: “An Garda Síochána does not comment on remarks by third-parties.”
Mr Martin asked that Mr McGrath withdraw the remarks, which he branded “disgraceful and contemptible”. The Taoiseach responded angrily that Ireland had an unarmed police force “that has stood us well and served the country throughout the years”. “That reference should be withdrawn, irrespective of to whom it applies, given the appalling atrocities that the Nazis committed, and that Hitler committed. “We’re a far different country than that, and it's not good enough that remarks like that would just slip off the tongue in condemning operational decisions that have been taken. “It isn't good enough for this parliament, and it shouldn't be tolerated.” Mr McGrath, leader of the Rural Independent Group and a TD for Tipperary, refused to withdraw the remarks.
The Taoiseach said the Government was very conscious of the very difficult challenges taxi drivers are facing as a result of the pandemic. It had provided a number of supports to the taxi drivers. “I accept that they may not consider them to be sufficient, but we have provided them and are prepared to examine their situation,” said Mr Martin. “We’re the one country that has been a beacon against fascism since the foundation of the State. We’re the one country that brought in a Constitution that was radical in its time, in the middle of the fascist era of the 1930s.” Mr McGrath should have awareness and “a bit of acknowledgement of where this country has come”, and should withdraw the remarks, he said. “It's not good enough.”
The row erupted after Richard Boyd Barrett told the Dáil that Grada Commissioner Drew Harris has banned the protest, due to take place tomorrow on public health grounds. He queried the interpretation and the decision to ban a legitimate and safe protest by taxi drivers, who would be staying in their cars. He asked if such a ban on the protest was in line with the Government's view of public health guidelines, and whether it would seek to find out “what on earth Drew Harris thought he was doing, using public health as an excuse to ban a legitimate protest by taxi drivers”. But Mr Martin said he had no intention of becoming involved in any way in an operational matter for a Garda Síochána.
Mr McGrath, before making his Nazi and Hitler comparison, said taxi drivers have been wiped out. He had been contacted about the ban by Tipperary drivers who had intended coming to Dublin in their cars to protest.
"Are we living in a totally totalitarian state that we can’t have any protest safely in cars? I mean, this is unbelievable.” He called for a debate on the matter.
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Must be a breakaway faction of whatever taxi group comes into yer head!!
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I'm not in any off the multiple taxi unions,but Jesus they wouldn't inspire confidence would they?
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Sieg heil matty
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What was the proposed protest over ?
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What was the proposed protest over ?
Dunno
Could be anything they like moaning them drivers
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https://www.q102.ie/news/q102-news/taxi-unions-set-for-meeting-with-taoiseach-on-covid-supports/ (https://www.q102.ie/news/q102-news/taxi-unions-set-for-meeting-with-taoiseach-on-covid-supports/)
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Must be a breakaway faction of whatever taxi group comes into yer head!!
With the Hitler comparison, I can only think of one attendee!
Ein Volk
Ein Car
Ein Covid! 8)
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FFLUCK it...An I had me sandbitches made!
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Industry representatives have outlined five key points that must be addressed:
An industry specific financial package over a 12 month period.
A moratorium on the issuing of new taxi licenses.
An extension of limits on vehicle age from ten years to 15 years (Taxi drivers were given a one year extension in 2020)
The abolition of the Taxi Advisory Committee.
A guarantee of the retention of access to bus corridors.
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Industry representatives have outlined five key points that must be addressed:
An industry specific financial package over a 12 month period. (No chance).
A moratorium on the issuing of new taxi licenses. (Maybe fer a year or Two).
An extension of limits on vehicle age from ten years to 15 years (Taxi drivers were given a one year extension in 2020) (Again maybe fer a year or Two).
The abolition of the Taxi Advisory Committee. (Who de Fook are they ?).
A guarantee of the retention of access to bus corridors. (Schusses ! Let sleeping dogs lie !).
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No mention anywhere that Taxi drivers who use the road almost twice as often as a private motorist should be allowed to pay the same if not more road tax than a private motorist, they must have forgotten that one !
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Not with ye Ken.....€95 is the goin rate of Motor Tax for an SPSV,other than Vintage(€56),EV is lowest at €120.
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Not with ye Ken.....€95 is the goin rate of Motor Tax for an SPSV,other than Vintage(€56),EV is lowest at €120.
What I'm saying Hal is these idiots are so good at moaning about everything that they tend to forget the few good perks of our job.
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Not with ye Ken.....€95 is the goin rate of Motor Tax for an SPSV,other than Vintage(€56),EV is lowest at €120.
What I'm saying Hal is these idiots are so good at moaning about everything that they tend to forget the few good perks of our job.
And we get to use the Bus Lanes
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Industry representatives have outlined five key points that must be addressed:
An industry specific financial package over a 12 month period.Mick from Cork who they will never ever get to meet would say we gave you 350 and allowed you earn as well unlike any other section of the lockdown .I must reconsider that .
A moratorium on the issuing of new taxi licenses.That will take care of itself if things are as bad as you say
An extension of limits on vehicle age from ten years to 15 years (Taxi drivers were given a one year extension in 2020)There are Grants available to taxi drivers that are not available to others to change their vehicles
The abolition of the Taxi Advisory Committee.That is a statutory body cannot be abolished but if any of you are literate you could ask the minister for an appointment .I know a few men invited refused to join .
A guarantee of the retention of access to bus corridors.Limited access to buslanes that presently exists will continue to exist for taxi vehicles
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Industry representatives have outlined five key points that must be addressed:
An industry specific financial package over a 12 month period.Mick from Cork who they will never ever get to meet would say we gave you 350 and allowed you earn as well unlike any other section of the lockdown .I must reconsider that .
A moratorium on the issuing of new taxi licenses.That will take care of itself if things are as bad as you say
An extension of limits on vehicle age from ten years to 15 years (Taxi drivers were given a one year extension in 2020)There are Grants available to taxi drivers that are not available to others to change their vehicles
The abolition of the Taxi Advisory Committee.That is a statutory body cannot be abolished but if any of you are literate you could ask the minister for an appointment .I know a few men invited refused to join .
A guarantee of the retention of access to bus corridors.Limited access to buslanes that presently exists will continue to exist for taxi vehicles
You sure you don’t work for the NTA John??
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What part of that reply is incorrect Justin ? We get more perks than any other self employed workers ?
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Why do the unions always ask for the NTA to stop issuing plates?You can't drive a taxi without passing the geography test.All they need is to toughen up the best back to where it was.Problem solved.No need for legislative changes.
Maybe the unions have taxis they can't rent out?
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Why do the unions always ask for the NTA to stop issuing plates?You can't drive a taxi without passing the geography test.All they need is to toughen up the best back to where it was.Problem solved.No need for legislative changes.
Maybe the unions have taxis they can't rent out?
Merch STOP MAKING SENSE .....They dont want any more vehicle licences but have no complaint against more drivers ????
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"The abolition of the Taxi Advisory Committee. (Who de Fook are they ?)"
The biggest danger to taxi drivers, as long as Revenue's best friend FN have a seat on it. Gov/NTA will bend over backwards to keep them happy.
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Why do the unions always ask for the NTA to stop issuing plates?You can't drive a taxi without passing the geography test.All they need is to toughen up the best back to where it was.Problem solved.No need for legislative changes.
Maybe the unions have taxis they can't rent out?
Christy Humphrey and his family have one or two cars IIRC.
Sorry, my bad. Make that 10+ not including lapsed licences.
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"The abolition of the Taxi Advisory Committee. (Who de Fook are they ?)"
The biggest danger to taxi drivers, as long as Revenue's best friend FN have a seat on it. Gov/NTA will bend over backwards to keep them happy.
I guess the seat on TAC could help Free Now secure a/the contract for eScooters up above in Dublin?
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Curiouser and curiouser...
Seems the Garda can't ban protests but they allegedly were going to ticket any taxi that turned up in Merrion Sq for the protest. Don't know if it was before or after this info got out that the taxi drivers decided to cancel their protest.
Gardaí say taxi drivers took decision to cancel their protest after Mattie McGrath’s Nazi comment in Dáil (https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/gardai-say-taxi-drivers-took-decision-to-cancel-their-protest-after-mattie-mcgraths-nazi-comment-in-dail-40366284.html) (Indo, 28th April 2021)
- Gardaí have said taxi drivers took the decision to cancel their protest after claims in the Dáil that Garda Commissioner Drew Harris had banned the event.
- However in a statement this afternoon An Garda Síochána said the decision not to go ahead with the protest was made by the taxi drivers. It said senior management in the Dublin Metropolitan Region “engaged with the groups planning this protest”. “Following this engagement, it is our understanding that these groups no longer intend to go ahead with their protest. This is entirely a matter for those groups.”
- But taxi drivers later denied they had consulted gardaí about the planned protest. Dave McGuinness of Tíománaí Tacsaí na hÉireann said: “We didn’t inform the gardaí. We were saying members should ply for hire and turn up for work at Merrion Square. “The gardaí must have got wind of it from social media. We were told a circular had gone out to all garda stations and that there would be €100 fines for everyone and it would have implications for drivers seeking to renew their public service vehicle (PSV) licence for another five years.”
- [Richard Boyd Barrett] said: “Taxi groups were informed that a decision was made at a senior level that it was not to go ahead. They were told by a Garda inspector that it came from the Phoenix Park.” Mr Boyd Barrett said the drivers would have remained in their cars and not stood together, adding: “This would appear very much like political policing.”
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There's loads of drivers' unions. Chances are at least one engaged with An Garda Siochana.