UBER back on the agenda

[john m]

Junior minister for transport and down the country stuff says ....Regarding a rural-based Uber-like system, Mr Griffin said: “We need to start thinking outside the box in terms of rural Ireland. We are never going to be able to afford the type of transport network in rural Ireland that we have in Dawson St or O’Connell St in Dublin or anywhere else like that.

“What we do need to do is to start embracing technology, we need to look at the likes of Uber, we need to start empowering local communities to help each other,” he said.

[Rat Catcher]

Didn't you say that Uber has to disregard any ambitions to launch UberPop on foot of recent EU legislation defining it as a transport firm and apparently banning transport firms from lobbying for rideshare type services. I thought it was going to relaunch UberTaxi with the support of taxi drivers led by your good self?

[john m]

Dont be a prick .UBER will without my help go after the Irish taxi market once again as Mytaxi have imploded it is rubbish and has lost the confidence of the customers .I waited 30 minutes to cover a pre book to get priority as it was offered with the job but never got it .Brendan Griffin TD is the junior minister for transport he has always favoured some kind of rideshare or community involvement to solve rural transport shortages .I did not say anything about UBER pop but im sure Rural hacks may consider operating the UBER or My taxi app if the minister says they are only availing of new dynamic teck that he intends to legislate for in accordance with recent ECJ rulings .The ECJ ruling has opened up the door for new legislation if the minister sees fit to use it as an excuse for change .Griffin is from Healy Wray country and will try to win browny points just in case there is an election ,Rural travellers will welcome any type of transport and that will be rewarded at the ballot box .

[watty]

The minister you quote says he tried a scheme already and it didn't work.  Insurance (and breaking the law) killed it off.



https://www.nationaltransport.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Guide_for_obtaining_a_local_area_hackney_licence1.pdf
€70 & a car will get you a local area hackney licence already.

If there really was demand for people in rural areas to drive drunks home at midnight, then people would pay that €70 and make their fortune!

[john m]

Its silly season for politicians they have to grab newspaper inches .As you say if there was demand then the locals would do it as long as they can get insured .if the Minister licences the drivers then Im sure the insurance will be available .I still wonder why Mytaxi are training drivers to drive taxies that are not available ?

[Rat Catcher]

Reports on here suggest that you can put a miniWAT on the road for less than 10k. Given that men had to pay over 6k for the plate alone after entry liberalisation the cost of entry is now lower than ever with an infinite number of licences available.

[john m]

Softbank just completed the purchase of 15% of UBER and it will be floated on the NYSE before the end of 2018 .We night see some bobo dollars in their drive to sign up drivers and customers .

[Rat Catcher]

Has Softbank got a particular interest in Ireland? Uber's interest here only extends to serving it's international client base.

[john m]

If they go to market in 2018 they will be priced on the amount of drivers and passengers they have signed up .The ECJ thing has given them direction in Europe where they can only use licenced service providers that is a huge market with taxies .limos and hacks .Cant see them not trowing coin at both drivers and passengers .

[Rat Catcher]

They only ever used licensed service providers in Ireland and in the rest of Europe save in jurisdictions that don't licence service providers. Does the ECJ require Govt to licence service providers and, if so, under what terms?

[john m]

They only ever used licensed service providers in Ireland and in the rest of Europe save in jurisdictions that don't licence service providers. Does the ECJ require Govt to licence service providers and, if so, under what terms?

 No Rodent the government are not required to licence UBER but I wouldnt be surprised to see their app being allowed to operate as a dispatcher in Rural hacks and hacks .At the moment there seems to be a grey area as hacks are prebooked .This might be what Minister has in mind to allow hacks and rural hacks  use a hailing app .This would allow existing taxi drivers possibly surrender their taxi plate to be able to say there is demand for a rural hack then continue to provide a service without the cost of SGS and meter resets and possibly no 9 year rule .If he can reduce the cost of  providing a ruralservice more drivers might come into the industry down the country .He did say UBER type services so Mytaxi and others can play .

[Rat Catcher]

Govt has already licensed Uber via NTA. I would be obliged if the honourable gentleman for Clondalkin and District would answer the fukking question I asked. Does the ECJ require Govt to licence service providers and, if so, under what terms?

[john m]

Govt has already licensed Uber via NTA. I would be obliged if the honourable gentleman for Clondalkin and District would answer the fukking question I asked. Does the ECJ require Govt to licence service providers and, if so, under what terms?

Did Santy not bring you reading Glassed .

[Rat Catcher]

You say the ECJ requires Uber to do what it has always done i.e. use licensed service providers. How does it define licensed service providers? Does it preclude Govt from determining that anyone with a driving licence is sufficiently licensed? What I'm trying to find out is what difference the ECJ saying that Uber can only do what it has always done makes, if any.

[john m]

You say the ECJ requires Uber to do what it has always done i.e. use licensed service providers. How does it define licensed service providers? Does it preclude Govt from determining that anyone with a driving licence is sufficiently licensed? What I'm trying to find out is what difference the ECJ saying that Uber can only do what it has always done makes, if any.

They must adhere to all LOCAL rules .Those rules are made up by National authorities .Which is why I opined that hacks or Ruralhacks might be allowed use their app to gain work.Im sure UBER have more than one app one for licenced taxies who use their own meter and one for uber pop .National authorities can introduce any rules they like If you read what the Junior Transport Minister says he likes the idea of using tech to solve rura ltransport availability .How do Mytaxi calculate hack or Limo fares ?