Cabbies hope for aid package after Mallon meeting

TALKS Taxi drivers at Stormont yesterday

TAXI drivers voiced hope after a “positive” meeting with Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon around support yesterday.

Public and private hire cabbies met her remotely following a campaign for specific hardship relief amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Some were able to be furloughed during the first wave but others who are selfemployed said they have had no support.

The Executive will make a decision this week. Darragh Mackin, of Phoenix Law, said: “Payments will be made to ensure the industry is protected and the taxi industry after the pandemic can function.”

The breakthrough came following uncertainty over which Stormont minister could act to assist taxi drivers.

Ms Mallon has a role in regulating the sector but insisted only Economy Minister Diane Dodds had the powers necessary to create a financial assistance scheme.

Ms Mallon then wrote to the First and Deputy First Ministers to ask them to designate the authority to establish a payment scheme, which was granted under the 2009 Financial Assistance Act.

A hardship scheme for the taxi, private bus and coach sectors has since been rubber-stamped by the Executive.

Mr Mackin said while they are expecting support for drivers, there has been no movement on help for taxi depots.

He added: “It’s been a very difficult journey to get to this stage, regrettably there has been a threat of legal proceedings. There have also been numerous complexities as a result of the uncertainty over who bore the responsibility for the taxi industry.

“Whilst there has been some fraught exchanges, today was a very constructive engagement. The news was very much welcomed by taxi drivers that the payments will now be made. Unfortunately there is an issue that continues to arise in respect of depot owners.”

Jonathan Mckeown, of Eastside Taxis, said he felt relieved after the meeting. He added: “We started campaigning towards the end of March when we realised how severe the first lockdown was going to be. We deserve what we heard today. It’s been tough, you fall into debt.”

Belfast cabbie Conor Mcginley said: “We still had our payments, our insurance just to run our business.

“We were left behind even though we are an

essential business.”

Taxi driver Jonathan Mckeown