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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 “That reference should be withdrawn, irrespective of to whom it applies, given the appalling atrocities that the Nazis committed, and that Hitler committed.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.
What was the proposed protest over ?
Must be a breakaway faction of whatever taxi group comes into yer head!!
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 !).
Not with ye Ken.....€95 is the goin rate of Motor Tax for an SPSV,other than Vintage(€56),EV is lowest at €120.
Quote from: Shallowhal on April 28, 2021, 11:48:43 pmNot 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.
