Taxi Drivers Ireland has suspended a six-day series of convoy and go-slow protests that threatened to gridlock Dublin city centre and Dublin Airport from 8 to 13 December. The move follows confirmation that Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien will meet representatives next week to discuss Uber’s newly introduced fixed-fare option.
Drivers claim the app’s flat-price feature undercuts metered tariffs by up to one-third, eroding earnings and pushing operators toward unsustainable hours. The planned action would have blocked major commuter arteries during the Christmas party season and severely impacted airport access, raising alarms among hotels, airlines and multinational firms whose transferees rely on taxis for last-mile travel.
![Dublin taxi drivers pause six-day ‘shutdown’ after Government agrees to talks on Uber fixed fares]()
Business-travel managers had already begun issuing advisories urging travellers to build in extra transit time or switch to private-hire companies. The suspension eases immediate disruption but remains “temporary and conditional,” according to union spokesperson Derek O’Keeffe. If talks fail, drivers could revive rolling protests with just 48 hours’ notice.
Uber maintains that fixed fares offer transparency and that drivers can view earnings before accepting a job. The National Transport Authority will brief the minister on whether the pricing model complies with taxi-regulation bylaws, which stipulate mandatory use of the meter unless the fare is agreed in advance.
Companies planning December relocations or project-kick-off visits should monitor the negotiations closely. Contingency plans—pre-booked hotel shuttles, corporate car accounts or Leap-card guidance—may yet be needed if industrial action resumes.
Drivers claim the app’s flat-price feature undercuts metered tariffs by up to one-third, eroding earnings and pushing operators toward unsustainable hours. The planned action would have blocked major commuter arteries during the Christmas party season and severely impacted airport access, raising alarms among hotels, airlines and multinational firms whose transferees rely on taxis for last-mile travel.
Business-travel managers had already begun issuing advisories urging travellers to build in extra transit time or switch to private-hire companies. The suspension eases immediate disruption but remains “temporary and conditional,” according to union spokesperson Derek O’Keeffe. If talks fail, drivers could revive rolling protests with just 48 hours’ notice.
Uber maintains that fixed fares offer transparency and that drivers can view earnings before accepting a job. The National Transport Authority will brief the minister on whether the pricing model complies with taxi-regulation bylaws, which stipulate mandatory use of the meter unless the fare is agreed in advance.
Companies planning December relocations or project-kick-off visits should monitor the negotiations closely. Contingency plans—pre-booked hotel shuttles, corporate car accounts or Leap-card guidance—may yet be needed if industrial action resumes.
