Taxi Driver Online

Its a old news item but interesting idea !


O'Leary's taxi may fall foul of new regulations

Sunday, July 06, 2003

By Niamh Connolly

Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary is to have his taxi cab effectively confined to the Mullingar area under new regulations to be drawn up by the new taxi regulator, The Sunday Business Post has learned.The regulator is to be appointed in the autumn following the enactment of the Taxi (Regulation) Bill 2003 last week.

The regulator will oversee standards in the taxi and hackney industry, and will introduce rules governing taxis' use of bus lanes.

Advertisements will be posted in newspapers within two weeks.

Under the bill, a code is to be drawn up by the regulator to disqualify taxi drivers with criminal convictions, introduce an age limit and colour code for cars, and raise standards for drivers.

The regulator is also expected to restrict the use of bus lanes by taxis to their own licensing area - in O'Leary's case, Mullingar, Co Westmeath.

Such a move would restrain the budget airline boss from using his MG 99 taxi plate in Dublin's bus lanes en route to Ryanair's headquarters at Dublin Airport.

O'Leary's Mullingar taxi plate, first reported in this newspaper, is registered to a €2 company, Tillingdale Ltd, of which O'Leary is secretary and a shareholder.The company's address is Gigginstown House, Mullingar, Co Westmeath.

Industry sources observed that O'Leary could simply substitute a Dublin taxi plate for his Mullingar plate, and continue to use the quality bus corridors, unless more fundamental changes were made to prevent individuals purchasing licences for their own private use.

Government sources said the regulator would be asked to examine this issue, in particular claims that professionals and service companies had purchased taxi plates to avoid gridlock.

The government last week rejected a proposed amendment from Fine Gael banning individuals from buying taxi plates for personal use.

The more I read about that bloke, the more I dislike him.

Just hope his drivers don't fall asleep like his pilots.

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IDFIMH

I think that was a stewardess rather than a pilot. But agree with you on the rest Suss.

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There is Significant Unmet Demand for my Opinion.

and you can thank your mate - john fingleton

What, for Michael Ryan taking the...err...Mick?

Next you'll be blaming 7/7 and the Boxing day Tsunami on derestriction in Harlow.

Maybe that's why they reversed it

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

Just in case you haven't got it yet mr 187ums, the issue was access to bus lanes, which has little to do with derestriction - after all, what's to stop a multi-millionare buying a plate in a restricted area so that he can use the bus lanes.

Or even a 'free' PH plate in an area that allows PH into the bus lanes?

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

As long as he was buying it off Mr 187ums, then I doubt he would mind.

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IDFIMH

if you remember he bought his "taxi" after your maniacal messiah John Fingleton made sure that the Irish cab trade was deregulated, he saw an opportunity and took it.

p.s. someone wanted to buy my plate - but I told them no thanks, you would cum in your pants if i told you how much plates cost my way......

Do you really think a multi millionaire is going to be that worried about a plate premium? Especially as people will tell him that it's a sound investment.

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IDFIMH

I think many people will be more worried about the other side when plates are worth-less.

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IDFIMH

I still can't see the link between this and 'deregulation'.

Are there any similar examples in the UK, either in restricted or unrestricted areas?

I certainly haven't heard of any.



You seem to forget that you once claimed that your plates in Oxford were "not worth the plastic its printed on".

Of course, Tom Thumb and myself put you right about it, £60-70K was it?

But yes, something's probably going on in someone's pants, but I think it's yours, and you're crapping yourself.

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

Ask him how much that L reg metro went for two weeks ago? And why the new owner got rid of the metro and put on an X reg Tx1?

While your at it why not ask him how much rents are for chitty Fairways, etc etc?

Maybe then I'll tell him how much the plates are selling for in Oxford.

No wonder Mr 187 ums is chitting his pants.

Regards

JD

my my JD, what long hands you have, well if you know the answers spit them out, as for rents for chitty fairways, same as the TX1's, or if you work for All British Cabs - its the 50/50 split.

and as for me chitting myself far from it, coz you see the wheel will turn, you might get you deregulation, then what? you going to campaign for cheaper fares? any old vehicle?

and I am sure you know all about the survey going on as well, perhaps its you who is conducting it??

p.s. as for plates becoming worthless. so what? its the folks that have invested the money that i feel sorry for, you obviously dont give a chit about the real taxi drivers.

I think you will find that most people will feel sorry for those that lose out.

Just wish I was one of them.

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IDFIMH