Uber and Lyft could help with Ireland’s taxi shortage, says Tánaiste

36 comments
  1. There would have to be a significant change to make that happen. In other countries, any person with a car can sign up and do Uber to make some money on the side.

    I’d love to see it happen in Ireland, but I just can’t see it.

  2. Watch these fucking vampires swoop in and use Covid to rearrange society to suit their odious ideology. Disaster capitalism eat your heart out.

    Uber and Lyft and the whole ‘sharing economy’ is a pox. Typical of Varadkar to want to harm workers and consumers though.

  3. “The big difference that I find going to other parts of the world is that it is much easier to get a ride essentially – to get a car ride.” Thanks for clarifying Leo.

  4. Their Insurance company overlords might have a thing or two to say about that. Taxi drivers pay through the nose to be able to carry passengers. Also, while there are no doubt some scummy taxi drivers. They are all Garda vetted. Is it wise to bin that requirement ?

  5. This needs to happen. Too much red-tape for a simple task of transporting people around. A simple job that could employ 1000s of people providing them with part time income when they need it most.

  6. I’ve always found it hard to sympathise too much with taxi drivers since they kicked up a stink 15/20 years ago opposing the issuance of new taxi licences with claims it would destroy the service; lead to dangerous individuals being accepted; etc (all of which proved to be false of course). Like any protected group though, they’ll fight tooth and nail to keep that status.

    Lyft and Uber aren’t without their own issues of course. Clearly they are a much better option for consumers, but their treatment of their workers is hardly exemplary. It’s a tough one for legislators, but they’re definitely fighting against the tide in trying to keep them out. Best they get down to doing their job and actually legislate in such a way so as to allow their entry into the market while also protecting their workers.

  7. Fuck this there are loads of countries that have massive protests about these companies, just make incentives

  8. Massively in favour of this as well. Beyond easing the burden of a severe lack of taxis I also see many other benefits. E.g:

    1. Students/other can make their own cash doing a few hours at the weekend or whenever suits.
    2. Elderly folks in rural Ireland being able to head into the village for a few pints at the weekend and not have to worry about how they’re getting home (or worse, having them take the risk and drive themselves).
    3. Easing the hotel room shortage whereby you can stay in the next town if where your event (weddings, stag do etc) is full/too expensive.

    All goes without saying that I would support heightened vetting for drivers if it was to be allowed. Not just Ubers process but Garda vetting too.

  9. 100% in favour of this. Taxi drivers are the worst kind of protectionism industry. I’ve no sympathy for them. I travel a lot and getting around other cities is so much easier compared to Dublin.

  10. Used to use uber all the time when I lived abroad it was a great service and always more cost effective than standard taxis.

    Shame it cant work over here

  11. Uber and lyft actually works out really well for taxi drivers. I live in San Diego and everyone here thought it would be a problem but it actually isnt

  12. Ireland doesn’t have a taxi shortage, it has a car dependency problem. We need better public transport and cycle infrastructure, not more taxis.

  13. Dunno what people are on about here. Remember last time I was back home in Ireland. Bar closed late and there was literally no taxis. None of the local numbers were live.

    We had to walk home at 4 in the morning. Took nearly two hours. I was with a couple lads so it was grand but certainly not safe!

    Same with the shitty “cash is king” retort from taxi drivers who say their machine isn’t working.

    It’s a piss take. We should 100% have Uber. It’s so handy.

  14. I’d rather they tried to do something to combat insurance prices, or fuel prices, then introduce uber

    Fat chance of that happening I’m sure

    Also, wouldn’t there need to be changes to insurance? Pretty sure most companies won’t cover you on normal car insurance if you’re taking fares

  15. Uber works in cities with large numbers of desperately poor people who need to work 12 to 15 hours a day to get enough together to scrape a living in these high cost places, destroying the earnings of well regulated taxis

    So I can see why FG are all for it.

  16. If it means I can actually get a ride, then yes. If your industry can’t keep up with demand and is expensive why should consumers suffer. Evolve or die.

  17. Who the hell would start ubering with the cost of fuel and the tax laws in this country? Seriously like ? If I wanted to uber in my spare time away from my full time job, I’d probably have to pay 20% tax and probably have my tax credits split then too which means I’ll be paying more tax in my current job. Like the government literally doesn’t want you earning more money in your spare time.

  18. They should be allowed. Sometimes charged over 30 euro to travel 8 miles home here in Cork in no traffic. A complete joke. Can afford to go out but paying 60 euro taxi return. F that. Between them now getting a 20k grant to buy electric cars, all seem to have an issue with using a card they can all f right off. Though this article is clearly to cast shade on how much corrupt Leo is.

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