The threat of industrial action has not been ruled out by Dublin's taxi drivers, who met today to formulate a response to the Government's proposals to change the taxi licensing laws. Representatives of the taxi drivers' union are to seek a meeting with the Government within the next week.
Thousands of taxi drivers thronged the National Stadium in Dublin today, in protest at the Department of the Environment's plans to double the number of licences in the city. One of the main bones of contentions for the drivers was that they had not been made aware of the Government's intentions, before they were made public. A steering committee, made up of taxi drivers, and union and federation representatives has now been set up, and a meeting with taxi drivers are seeking a response from the Minister within 10 days.
Ealier up to 200 construction workers had been protesting on the motorway at Dublin airport against lack of safety regulations on building sites. The workers had earlier blocked both ends of O'Connell Bridge in the city centre. They also occupied the office of the Minister of State, Tom Kitt, and protesters with placards occupied the roof of the Ministerial building in Adelaide Road. Twelve protests took place around Dublin's city centre.
