Hope of cheaper taxi fares as watchdog backs Uber here

"In a move that will infuriate the taxi industry, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is recommending that all drivers be allowed to use their own cars to provide taxi rides, without needing a special licence. This would mean they would be regulated only for safety and service. Uber, which has been operating in the Dublin market since 2014, is not allowed to use private cars to pick up passengers, as it does in other countries."

"The CCPC says the status quo is holding back innovation in the industry, and means a lack of choice for customers, as well as the prospect of long waits or staying at home because of problems with taxi availability. In other jurisdictions, firms such as Uber operate 'surge pricing' which is based on demand. This means fares can be cheaper than traditional taxis at times, often for shorter trips and off-peak journeys."

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission recommends allowing all drivers to use personal cars to provide taxi rides without requiring a special licence, with regulation limited to safety and service. Uber is currently barred from using private cars to collect passengers in Dublin. The CCPC links the regulated status quo to reduced innovation, limited customer choice and a nationwide taxi shortage. A survey found four in ten people had trouble hailing a cab in December, almost two-thirds of rural residents report insufficient taxis, and 60% want the option of paying a fixed fare. The National Transport Authority warns that a non-regulated regime could undermine the regulated system.

Read at Irish Independent