Why are they protesting?
Taxi regulator Ger Deering has ruffled feathers since the Commission for Taxi Regulation launched (without a hint of irony) their 'Driving Forward' plan in March of this year. The plan is an attempt to standardise as much of the taxi industry as possible, with the exception of uniformity of the physical appearance of the fleet, which has been put on hold for a few years.

Apart from the new national fare, other reforms due to come into force this month are mandatory receipts and a national consumer awareness campaign along with 'enhanced in-vehicle information' . . . basically a sign detailing customer rights and fare information.

The regulator is attempting to bring taxis and hackneys up to the standard of fleets in other cities and countries. A new 'skills development programme', enhanced car safety, a new and more accessible complaints process and a new customer guide to taxis are all promised under the plan.

Some drivers are vehemently opposed to any such change.

What is the story with the new fare?
You may have noticed that for the privilege of opening a taxi door and sitting inside, there's already a little red figure glowing on the meter. There are actually 35 different fares around country, because up until now, they were set by the local authorities.

Those fares varied from 2.40 (in Tipperary town) to 6 (Tralee, Ennis and Drogheda). On 25 September, this will be set at 3.80 nationally.

Up to now the peak fare . . . which kicks in after 8pm . . . varied from 3.40 (that's Tipperary again) to 6.50 (Drogheda and Waterford). The new peak fare will be set at 4.10. Both new fares will also include the first kilometre the car travels. Unsurprisingly, drivers who were charging way over the odds aren't too pleased with the introduction of a standardised fare. Three tariffs per kilometre travelled will also come into force. Tariff A covers 80% of journeys, and it is set at 95c/km.

What about additional charges?
A 'luggage' charge, which applied in 11 of 35 taxi meter areas (it ranges from 50c to 75c in Dublin, and cannot exceed 1) will also be abolished. There was always confusion about this charge and what constituted luggage . . . from buggies to shopping bags to a briefcase. A luggage charge will now be incorporated in the new passenger charge which will stand at 1 for every additional passenger. So if three people are in a taxi, the passenger charge will be 2 on top of the fare.

What has Dublin Airport got to do with all of this?
Much of the kerfuffle involves taxis that operate from Dublin Airport. The taxi drivers who work from the airport are even more resistant to change because they can whack on an additional 1.50 'pick up charge' from passengers waiting at the Dublin Airport rank. The new national fare would abolish this practice.

Taxi drivers justify this charge by pointing out that they have to pay 70c every time they travel to the airport. They view this as a 'toll' that should be incorporated into the fare. The Dublin Airport Authority recently notified drivers that this practice would change to an annual flat fee of 500 for drivers who want to pick up from the airport. This is still the subject of argument, sorry, discussion.

So how much does it cost to get from airport to city centre then?
It should cost between 16 and 20, but will vary depending on the amount of luggage, time of day, number of passengers, radio call-out . . . and the fact that you're travelling to or from the airport.

Most drivers are honest, but there have been complaints by tourists that they were ripped off . . . something that can be hard to prove in the absence of a set fare, such as exists in New York.

All of which is why the independent regulator is so keen on standardisation.

Why is the protest only happening now?
Well, it isn't really. The discord within the industry has been growing all summer.

Last week's protest from the Phoenix Park and then on to O'Connell Street was particularly disruptive to the public and caused chaos at rush hour.

The protests began in July and are becoming more vocal now, as the National Taxi Fare Structure will be introduced on 25 September. The union leaders from SIPTU, the Irish Taxi Drivers' Federation and the National Taxi Drivers' Union, frightened they were going to lose control of their members and keen to avoid the PR disaster of another strike last Thursday, called in the Department of Transport to mediate.

But there were only 400 protesters out of a total of 10,000 taxi drivers.

What about drivers who aren't protesting?
They're keeping their heads down during strike days. "We get a lot of calls from taxi drivers who are anxious to move ahead, " regulator Ger Derring said. "The bulk of drivers do provide a good service."

Some taxis refused to drive journalists to the protest meeting in the Phoenix Park for fear of being 'harassed'. Others took their roof signs or plates off and operated as normal. Four-hundred angry taxi drivers chanting "escalate" can make an intimidating sight to colleagues.

The taxi drivers in O'Connell Street all seemed to be middle-aged white men from Dublin. Do they reflect the views of drivers nationwide?
There is a perception that this is a small group of people intimidating the rest and acting disproportionately. Just 2% of Ireland's taxi drivers were actually involved in the strike last Monday, although they claim that many more support them.

Regulator Ger Deering would not offer his opinion as to whether he thought these were the same drivers who opposed the deregulation of the industry, but told the Sunday Tribune, "if decisions were made on the basis of what happened last Monday, we'd still only have 2,000 taxis on the streets in Dublin. People are always nervous of change."

Deering . . . a calm and resolute sort . . . adds: "I don't just regulate the industry, I also have to look at the needs and wants of consumers. You can't give a veto to one particular sectorf Nobody gets everything they want, it's about striking a balance."