Justin .Here is the dilemma .Drivers say there are to many taxis /Prove it ? It cannot be proved as it is not possible to say who will or will not be a customer .Drivers say there are to many tax cabs and they want no more .The problem there is most of us got licences because of a Supreme Court Judgement that stated the Minister has no power to stop anybody from getting a licence other than by regulating the actual vehicle .After the 2012 review there were to be no more Saloon Plates and only A1 standard WATs .But reps appealed the WAV standard saying drivers who needed to change their WAT couldnt afford the new replacement so the standard was dropped for the Peugeot Partner which could be bought for about 6000 on the road or cheaper than a Saloon Plate without a vehicle .The simple thing is every driver needs to protect HIS interests and his interest might not be your interest .On the Pub thing you are actually not looking closely enough .Pubs like Cabs were deregulated .When I was a Kid up until about 1980 there were very few Off licences in Dublin .If we wanted porter to take away in Inchicore You had Paddy Kennys supermarket on Tyrconnell road an off licence on Emmett Road one in Rialto one in the Barn one hidden away on Sandwith Street and one at the bottom of the SCR or Mays on Montpellier Hill .Most people bought their take away from the Pub at full pub prices .Now with the Exception of the Confession Box in the Oblates Church every other shop in the area or garage does drink your own gargle take aways .The Publicans couldnt stop that .
So Justin you want less taxis so who do you want to get rid of .Blacks ,Asians ,Wheelchair vans.Saloon Cars ,Red Heads ,Fat Lads .any or all of them as long as its not me .And there is the problem .But if you wanted to really make a start why not chip the meeter that would refuse another fare after a driver had worked certain amount of hours and taken a certain amount of rest just like other transport providers .That would regulate the amount of cars working per shift but it would never be considered .
