"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. However, Transport Minister Darragh O'Brien said on Thursday that the Government had "no intention" of allowing 'ride-sharing' in Ireland."
"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."
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission recommends allowing all drivers to use their own cars to provide taxi rides without a special licence, with regulation limited to safety and service. The recommendation aims to increase choice, stimulate innovation and reduce long waits caused by a reported nationwide taxi shortage. The Transport Minister insists the Government has no intention of permitting ride-sharing and opposes allowing private cars to pick up passengers. Uber has operated in Dublin since 2014 but cannot use private cars for pickups. The National Transport Authority warned that a non-regulated regime would undermine the regulated system. Surveys show four in ten people had difficulty hailing a cab in December.
Read at Irish Independent
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