![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_Minister-Darragh-OBrien.jpg\")
Darragh O’Brien TD, Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy and Minister for Transport. TD for Dublin Fingal East pictured in Malahide, Dublin. Photo: Colin Keegan, Collins, Dublin.(Image: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin)<\/p>\nExclusive – The NTA is currently undertaking a review after Uber’s new proposed fare structureDarragh O’Brien TD, Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy and Minister for Transport. TD for Dublin Fingal East pictured in Malahide, Dublin. Photo: Colin Keegan, Collins, Dublin.(Image: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin)<\/p>\n
Uber cannot bring a new fare structure through \u201cby the back door\u201d without the approval of the National Transport Authority, Transport Minister Darragh O\u2019Brien has said.<\/p>\n
Traffic was brought to a standstill in Dublin earlier this month<\/a> when taxi drivers took part in two protests against Uber\u2019s<\/a> new fixed pricing plan for the city. The new fare structure would see customers agree on a price in advance of their trip.<\/p>\n Then, if the metre reads less than the agreed fare they pay the lower price, but if it\u2019s higher the passenger pays the pre-agreed fixed price. Over 1,500 taxi drivers staged the protests in Dublin, furious that they will lose out on money if this model is brought.<\/p>\n Minister O\u2019Brien said NTA is currently conducting a full review into taxi fare structures, and that will be back with him in the new year. He told the Irish Mirror: \u201cThe NTA did come back to me initially and said that they didn’t believe that the maximum fare was contrary to the regulations.<\/p>\n \u201cBut what I’ve asked them to do is to review it, because we can’t have a change in fare structure coming in by the back door, that should be done by the NTA.\u201d The Transport Minister said a private app shouldn\u2019t dictate a new fare structure in Ireland, as the change would likely see other operators having to follow suit.<\/p>\n He added: \u201cI also get the customer perspective. But I think we’ve got to look at it all in the round. So some were calling to just come in and ban this. But I checked it out they\u2019re not contrary to the current regulations. We do have a further piece of work to do.\u201d<\/p>\n Elsewhere in an interview with the Irish Mirror, Mr O\u2019Brien said he doesn\u2019t believe his plan to remove Dublin Airport\u2019s passenger cap is in contradiction to his responsibilities as the Minister for Climate. Proposed legislation will override the original 2007 planning condition of capping the airport to 32 million passengers a year, which has been repeatedly called for by airlines.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cAs an island, connectivity is really important and if you look at emissions from the aviation sector, they are a tiny proportion, less than 2%, and Ireland needs our connectivity. It needs our connectivity for jobs, for investments, and efficiency. Aircraft efficiency has greatly improved in the last 10 years.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are opportunities to decarbonise, but having a false inhibitor to growth in a major strategic state asset like Dublin Airport isn’t the way to do it. And I think I’m dealing with it from a national perspective as to how important that airport and indeed Shannon and Cork are for us.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I don’t think that position, I firmly believe, is not contradicted to my responsibilities on the climate side.\u201d<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1766779453_384_0_Minister-Darragh-OBrien.jpg\")
Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien pictured in Malahide, Dublin. Photo: Colin Keegan, Collins, Dublin.(Image: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin)<\/p>\n