CABTASTROPHE; Government faces 1 2 BILLION bill as taxi drivers sue over deregulation EXCLUSIVE.Byline: EMILY MILLER THOUSANDS of cabbies are preparing to sue the Government for almost half a BILLION euro after deregulation Deregulation The reduction or elimination of government power in a particular industry, usually enacted to create more competition within the industry. Notes: Traditional areas that have been deregulated are the telephone and airline industries. ruined their lives, the Irish Mirror can reveal. More than 2,500 cabbies are furious the value of their licence plates plummeted from as much as EUR EUR In currencies, this is the abbreviation for the Euro. Notes: The currency market, also known as the Foreign Exchange market, is the largest financial market in the world, with a daily average volume of over US $1 trillion. 200,000 to EUR5,000 in 2000. Barrister barrister: see attorney. barrister One of two types of practicing lawyers in Britain (the other is the solicitor). Barristers engage in advocacy (trial work), and only they may argue cases before a high court. Seamus Downes has taken their fight to the High Court in a case that could leave the state with another massive bill. Cabbies have been signing up with Mr Downes for the past two years. And the case is due to be pencilled in for within weeks. Thousands of drivers were left effectively pensionless in 2000, when taxi plates were devalued de·val·ue also de·val·u·ate v. de·val·ued also de·valu·at·ed, de·val·u·ing also de·val·u·at·ing, de·val·ues also de·val·u·ates v.tr. 1. To lessen or cancel the value of. . National Taxi Drivers Union (NTDU) President Tommy Gorman Thomas Patrick "T. P." Gorman (June 9, 1886 – May 15, 1961) was a founder of the National Hockey League, a winner of seven Stanley Cups as a general manager with four teams, and an Olympic gold medal-winning athlete. Early years Mr. hailed Mr Downes as "the perfect man for the job" - after he won millions compensating soldiers deafened on duty. Mr Gorman told the Irish Mirror: "Drivers were forced to sell homes, uproot families and faced a penniless retirement. "Three drivers committed suicide, but the NTDU couldn't afford its own third court battle, after losing two deregulation cases against the Government in 1999 and 2002. "But Seamus' claim is different - he has gone back to the start and will fight 1978 'regulation' not 'deregulation' in 2000. "He is against laws linked to Sylvester Barrett's 1978 Road Traffic Act, that drove the cost of a taxi through the roof." Mr Downes is to argue the then Government pressured local authorities to turn down taxi license applications between 1978 and 2000. This forced would-be cabbies to buy extortionate plates from existing drivers - they paid out the equivalent of EUR440million. Mr Goram said he welcomed a new Irish Taxi Regulator due in July, but added he still wants justice and cashback for pre-deregulation drivers. A driver who bought a plate in the 1980s, paying 20 per cent of his house value, is counting on Downes. He said: "I would be disappointed if I don't get at least EUR2,000, but I'm not being unrealistic about it. "Plates were worth the cost when I bought mine. "We drivers planned to sell plates when we retired and live on the profit. "It was a profession to be proud of, but since licenses were made available to everyone, the reputation of Dublin taxis has shot down." news@irishmirror.ie |
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