Traffic delays expected as taxis drive no more than 20km/h in protest
Ellen O'Donoghue
Taxi drivers are to hold another go-slow protest in Dublin on Wednesday evening, with cars driving no faster than 20 km/h.
The demonstration will again hit evening rush hour commuters, with drivers converging around Dublin Airport and between University College Dublin and Merrion Road from 4.30pm.
A similar protest last Thursday caused significant disruption to traffic on roads approaching the city centre, around the airport and on the streets surrounding Merrion Square.
Drivers have said it is the only option they have, after Uber's plans to introduce fixed-rate fares for passengers, which drivers say will impact their income massively.
Around a third of Ireland’s taxi drivers are understood to be registered with Uber.
Under the system, the passenger pays either the fixed fare or the amount shown on the meter, whichever is lower. The drivers say that when a car is then delayed by traffic or forced to take an alternative route, they lose out, substantially in some cases.
Dublin City Council's traffic centre said that one protest is to move along the North Quays from Conyngham Rd, over Talbot Bridge, City Quay, Lombard St and up to Merrion Square West.
The other protest is expected to move from UCD/N11 along the Stillorgan Rd/Morehampton Rd/Leeson St/St Stephens Green/Molesworth St/Kildare St.
People have been advised to allow for heavy delays on their journeys.
Dublin Airport also issued an advisory ahead of the protest, with significant disruption and delays expected for passengers, meet and greeters.
"Please allow additional time to get to Dublin Airport and consider alternate routes, including accessing the airport via Junction 4 (Ballymun) on the M50," the advisory said.
❗️Passenger Advisory ❗️
Traffic is expected to be heavier than usual on the roads around Dublin Airport this evening (from 16.30 onwards) due to a further planned protest by taxi drivers. This will result in significant disruption and delays for passengers, meeters and greeters… pic.twitter.com/tsC9lIOI1C— Dublin Airport (@DublinAirport) December 3, 2025
Taxi driver David Knox told Newstalk that it is not feasible and will lead to the destruction of the industry.
Uber are currently offering a fixed fare that’s roughly 30 per cent below the meter, to run a taxi. Roughly 30 per cent (of income is) the running cost of your maintenance, your fuel, and everything’s about 30 per cent.
"So let’s say a taxi driver turns over €1,000 a week, 30 per cent of that is gone, €300, he’s now left with €700. Now, with Uber’s 30 per cent, a driver’s only earning €700, that 30 per cent running cost has not gone away. Take your 30 per cent off your €700, the driver is now only left with €400," Mr Knox said.
He also apologised to the public for the inconvenience, but said it is their only option.
"Our calls (to) the Department of Transport and the National Transport Authority have yet again fallen on deaf ears, and regrettably, it’s an inconvenience to the public for three or four hours, but we’re facing the destruction of our industry, our livelihoods, and nearly 18,000 families."
Mr Knox also told Newstalk that it is unfair competition.
"This is taking money from the livelihood of the driver directly, it’s the same as anybody of your listeners walking into a department store tomorrow, they walk in and they see the clothes are 30 per cent to 50 per cent marked down, they get to the till and the cashier at the till, that person’s wages have been reduced to give the public that discount, that’s not fair, that’s not moral," he said.
Taxi drivers have said their protests will continue until Uber agrees to discuss its fixed fares plan with them.
They want the Minister for Transport to step in and force Uber to come to the table for talks.
Taxi Drivers Ireland spokesman Derek O'Keeffe said they are in this for the long haul.
"The protests will run indefinitely. We’ve spoken extensively on the committee here in Taxi Drivers Ireland, and the decision has been reached: we will not stop protests until fixed fares in Ireland are removed."
Mr O'Keeffe added that their hands have been forced.
"We had hoped that someone from Uber would have paid attention and taken action. We also would have hoped that the ministers would have taken more action in the last week, but since that hasn’t happened, we’re left with no option but to take to the streets again today," he said.
