Uber is not permitted to introduce a new pricing system indirectly without obtaining approval from the National Transport Authority, according to Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien.
Traffic in Dublin ground to a halt earlier this month as taxi drivers participated in two demonstrations opposing Uber’s recently introduced fixed-rate pricing scheme for the city, reports The Mirror.
The updated pricing model would require passengers to settle on a cost before commencing their journey.
If the meter shows a lower amount than the predetermined fare, customers would pay the reduced rate, whereas if it exceeds that figure, they would pay the upfront fixed amount instead, reports The Mirror.
More than 1,500 taxi drivers organised the demonstrations in Dublin, angered by the potential loss of earnings under this approach.
Minister O’Brien stated that the NTA is presently undertaking a comprehensive examination of taxi pricing frameworks, with the results expected to reach him early next year.
He told the Irish Mirror: “The NTA did come back to me initially and said that they didn’t believe that the maximum fare was contrary to the regulations. But 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,” reports The Mirror.
The Transport Minister emphasised that a private application should not be allowed to impose a new pricing system in Ireland, since such a shift could compel other providers to adopt similar practices,” reports The Mirror.
He added: “I 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’re not contrary to the current regulations. We do have a further piece of work to do,” reports The Mirror.
In another part of his interview with the Irish Mirror, Mr O’Brien indicated that he does not view his proposal to lift the passenger limit at Dublin Airport as conflicting with his duties as Minister for Climate, reports The Mirror.
The planned legislation would supersede the initial 2007 planning restriction limiting the airport to 32 million passengers annually, a measure that has been frequently demanded by aviation companies.
He said: “As 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. There 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. And I don’t think that position, I firmly believe, is not contradicted to my responsibilities on the climate side,” reports The Mirror.
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