Taxi with sticker saying 'Irish Taxi Driver'

Cookie_Monster · 26-07-2010 01:22PM

eightyfish wrote: »

Its ownership base is in the UK. Its where the profits go. Any company with owners living here is a Irish business.

its ownership base is multinational as it shares are traded worldwide.

eightyfish wrote: »

The take away down the road from me which is owned and run by a Pakistani guy who's been living here 14 years - which employs two Indian chefs and two Irish drivers - are you telling me that is not an Irish business because its owner is Pakistani?

yeah pretty much, I see no reason for it to be otherwise unless he hold Irish nationality. nothing wrong with it either.

Mimikyu · 26-07-2010 01:24PM

This post has been deleted.

daveyboy_1ie · 26-07-2010 01:26PM

People have a right to choose who they give their money to, so anyone jumping on the PC bandwagon can just back off, as what you are doing is implied bullying, every bit as bad as racism but noone champions that cause because there are no brownie points to be won.

Strictly speaking Taxi drivers are in their 'offices' when they drive and can display the stickers with no real issues as they are stating a fact. If punters choose to ignore it, or even seek them out that is their perogative. It does not mean they are correct or incorrect, it is what it is and really no ones business other than their own.

Bill2673 · 26-07-2010 01:26PM

Andrew33 wrote: »

No, you cop on. How old are you? I remember a time in Dublin not so very long ago that you would not see a black person on the streets. You might see one in a hospital working as a doctor but they were a rarity, FACT.

The vast majority of Africans in this country now have only arrived in the last 4-5 years.

Yeah, I remember that time too. The 1980s. Not 2005, as you are saying. There was a large African community in Dublin by 2005.

Lorrrrraine · 26-07-2010 01:27PM

I used to cringe when people told me that they wouldn't get in a taxi if the driver wasn't Irish but after a few years experience I'm sad to say that I do see their point.
The Irish taxi driver blabber is awful sometimes, especially when they crack out the racist jokes/blonde jokes...ugh. However, I do prefer a little conversation, I've never been in a taxi with a foreign driver where they've spoken to me, makes for very awkward journey.

eightyfish · 26-07-2010 01:28PM

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

yeah pretty much, I see no reason for it to be otherwise unless he hold Irish nationality. nothing wrong with it either.

So at what stage does the business - started by the immigrant and supplying two other immigrants and two irish guys with jobs - become an "Irish" business? All the profits stay in the economy, the wages paid to the four employees stay in the economy, it benefits the economy in exactly the same way as any other take away, (and the food it excellent!). After 10 years in operation is it still not an Irish business? What if the owner has children and passes it on to them? Is it still not Irish?

Mimikyu · 26-07-2010 01:35PM

This post has been deleted.

Cookie_Monster · 26-07-2010 01:35PM

eightyfish wrote: »

So at what stage does the business - started by the immigrant and supplying two other immigrants and two irish guys with jobs - become an "Irish" business? All the profits stay in the economy, the wages paid to the four employees stay in the economy, it benefits the economy in exactly the same way as any other take away, (and the food it excellent!). After 10 years in operation is it still not an Irish business? What if the owner has children and passes it on to them? Is it still not Irish?

for all you know he could send all the money he makes back to Pakistan but that's not the point. his kids would be considered Irish if born here and that's when...

anyway... A self employed Irish taxi driver has every right to put a sign on his car saying he's Irish, and he has every right not to be considered racist for doing it.

Zombrex · 26-07-2010 01:35PM

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

but all Irish food products proudly display the fact that they are Irish and we are always being told to shop local and support Irish jobs, services and products. It is just an extension of that IMO

Not really, since every taxi in Ireland you get into is an Irish taxi, manned by someone living and working in Ireland, who spend a lot if not all the money you give them with in the Irish economy.

As opposed to saying buying a loaf of bread made in English by people living and working in England who will spend the money they are paid in England stimulating the English economy.

So these signs have very little in common with the Buy Irish campaigns, which are about stimulating the Irish economy.

The implication with this sign is that I'm not a foreign person who has come over to Ireland to work, I'm a "real" Irish person, so give me the money and you are helping one of your own rather helping a foreign person.

Some people may wish to pay a person born and raised in Ireland to drive them around as opposed to a person born in say India. Personally I don't give a crap.

JHMEG · 26-07-2010 01:41PM

Wicknight wrote: »

Not really, since every taxi in Ireland you get into is an Irish taxi, manned by someone living and working in Ireland, who spend a lot if not all the money you give them with in the Irish economy.

I think some people would view Irish taxi drivers with a degree of sympathy as if times are tough and they can't make ends meet they may have to emigrate.

For foreign taxi drivers if times are tough they may have the option of returning home to friends and family, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

eightyfish · 26-07-2010 01:44PM

JHMEG wrote: »

I think some people would view Irish taxi drivers with a degree of sympathy as if times are tough and they can't make ends meet they may have to emigrate.

And then they'd be driving a taxi in London as an immigrant, struggling to find customers with all the other taxis having "ENGLISH TAXI DRIVER" signs.

JHMEG wrote: »

For foreign taxi drivers if times are tough they may have the option of returning home to friends and family, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Why would their friends and family not be here? I'm presuming for anyone who lives and works here Ireland is "home".

Calina · 26-07-2010 02:00PM

I'm busy right now so this thread is locked until I get a chance to review it in some detail. So far, it is not edifying reading.

Victor · 26-07-2010 08:13PM

Andrew33 wrote: »

Why is it a disgrace? the driver has the right to proclaim his nationality anywhere on the car except the roofsign. I personally don't agree with the drivers decision to show the sign (he might as well show a sign reading "I am a bigotted racist") but the fact remains, a lot of people in Dublin would prefer to get into a car driven by someone who knows where they're going.

Indeed, the last taxi I got was Saturday morning becuase I had shopping. It was an auld fella, Dub taxi driver - who was going to take me to the wrong place.

foggy_lad wrote: »

and on a safety issue if these drivers cant understand basic place names how the hell did they get irish licences? they cant possibly understand road signs or markings properly with no english?

Councils can't get the names right, how do you expect low skill drivers* to.

JHMEG wrote: »

I did, and back then there was no public transport after 11.30pm either.

Back in the Nitelink / Nightrider hey-day?

Andrew33 wrote: »

No, you cop on. How old are you? I remember a time in Dublin not so very long ago that you would not see a black person on the streets. You might see one in a hospital working as a doctor but they were a rarity, FACT.

The vast majority of Africans in this country now have only arrived in the last 4-5 years.

Based on the census from 2002 and 2006 the number of people in Ireland, born in Africa was 26,515 (0.7%) in 2002 and 42,764 (1%) in 2006. An ethnic breakdown is not available for 2002, so I'll not use those figures.

So, you are wrong. FACT.

http://beyond2020.cso.ie/census/ReportFolders/ReportFolders.aspx > All Reports > Demography > Census > 2006 > Volume 4 - Usual Residence, Migration, Birthplaces and Nationalities > 28. Persons usually resident in each Province and County, and present in the State on census night, classified by country of birth, 2006

http://beyond2020.cso.ie/census/ReportFolders/ReportFolders.aspx > All Reports > Demography > Census > 2002 > Volume 4 - Usual Residence, Migration, Birthplaces and Nationalities > 29. Persons usually resident in each Province and County, and present in the State on census night, classified by country of birth, 2002

* Taxi driving is universally considered a low skill job.

Victor · 28-07-2010 09:45PM

Andrew33 wrote: »

I don't know how true the following story is but it's doing the rounds.

A young lad was knocked down and killed by a speeding taxi on the N11 at Stillorgan recently. The father of victim is a barrister/solicitor and is taking a case against the Taxi regulator's office as the driver of the taxi had only arrived in Ireland a matter of weeks before the accident.

As I said, I can't vouch for the veracity of the story but it possibly has a grain of truth to it, just like a pearl has a bit of dirt/grit at its centre.

Perhaps a link to the story froma reputable source?

As I understand it, taxi drivers need to have lived in a locality for 2 years to get a licence.

Lorrrrraine wrote: »

However, I do prefer a little conversation, I've never been in a taxi with a foreign driver where they've spoken to me, makes for very awkward journey.

It is proper for the pasenger to initiate the conversation, not the driver. I would think "How's your day?" or similar to be reasonably non-intrusive, while providing the human interaction that is reassuring to both passenger and driver (that the other isn't a knife wielding manic off their tree on drugs).

JHMEG · 28-07-2010 10:14PM

Thanks to Victor for re-opening this thread.

Anyway, where were we.

Victor wrote: »

Back in the Nitelink / Nightrider hey-day?

No, before the Nitelinks existed.

Victor wrote: »

Based on the census from 2002 and 2006 the number of people in Ireland, born in Africa was 26,515 (0.7%) in 2002 and 42,764 (1%) in 2006. An ethnic breakdown is not available for 2002, so I'll not use those figures.

I think he really meant 10 or 12 years, or the boom times. We only experienced massive immigration since the boom started...

mikemac · 29-07-2010 12:08AM

Bill2673 wrote: »

Thats a big statement. What evidence could support a statement like this? I don't see how you could back it up.

If you said, I think some foreign drivers are dodgy, based on my gut feeling, but I have absolutely nothing else to back it up.....then fair enough. But what reason can you give to say there is a more inherent risk with foreign drivers? Really? Please explain why you think this risk exists.

Anyway Bill your post wasn't aimed at me but I'll try to address it.

I do GAA coaching as a volunteer so the head coach submitting my name and I had to be vetted by the gardai. Realy some people might be insulted by this, what do they think I'm going to do??? But I know it's procedure so I go with it

It's not unusual, people in childcare, swimming coaches and realy most sports coaches do this.
It's not hard to track me in Ireland in fairness, they have my passport number, driving license number, all my schools and my PPS number. I don't know what else they need.

How exactly is a garda supposed to carry out a comprehensive check on somebody from a foreign country, any country.
Within the EU I'd hope there is a lot of cooperation and the gardai can get what they need.
And outside the EU? I'm sure the gardaí do the the best they can. But I'm not confident it's as rigorous as me from Tipperary or most of the posters here from Dublin.

Stonewolf · 29-07-2010 12:23AM

How about signs that say "Leather Seats", "Aircon" or "Valeted Regularly"?

It's a seriously rare occasion when I get a taxi to somewhere I can't navigate to so I don't care who's driving it, I want a clean car with a comfy seat and a pleasant interior temperature.

JHMEG · 29-07-2010 12:23AM

feelingstressed wrote: »

How exactly is a garda supposed to carry out a comprehensive check on somebody from a foreign country, any country.
Within the EU I'd hope there is a lot of cooperation and the gardai can get what they need.
And outside the EU? I'm sure the gardaí do the the best they can. But I'm not confident it's as rigorous as me from Tipperary or most of the posters here from Dublin.

Unfortunately we have evidence that there are plenty of foreign scumbags in the country. Which is what happens when you open your doors without conditions (ironically this was pointed out to me by a Moldovan friend).

A recent example, the gang of ten Albanians charged with 49 burglaries.
http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/49-burglaries-blamed-on-10-man-gang-467006.html

Albania isn't in the EU, so I can only assume they are asylum seekers or illegals.

Andrew33 · 29-07-2010 08:23AM

Victor wrote: »

Perhaps a link to the story froma reputable source?

As I understand it, taxi drivers need to have lived in a locality for 2 years to get a licence.

Oh yeah, everything on boards.ie comes from a "reputable" source:rolleyes:
Even the highest quality, most reputable newspapers have a "whispers,gossip,rumours column" which usually contain stories with a grain of truth in them.

Please post a link re "living in locality for 2 years to get a PSV licence";)

gaeilgegrinds1 · 29-07-2010 08:27AM

We have Women-Only taxis here in Galway...so if that sticker is racist, this one is sexist! Political correctness can really be taken too far!

Cookie_Monster · 29-07-2010 08:42AM

gaeilgegrinds1 wrote: »

We have Women-Only taxis here in Galway...so if that sticker is racist, this one is sexist! Political correctness can really be taken too far!

what

robinph · 29-07-2010 08:48AM

gaeilgegrinds1 wrote: »

We have Women-Only taxis here in Galway...so if that sticker is racist, this one is sexist! Political correctness can really be taken too far!

They won't take blokes as passengers?

corktina · 29-07-2010 08:56AM

feelingstressed wrote: »

Anyway Bill your post wasn't aimed at me but I'll try to address it.

I do GAA coaching as a volunteer so the head coach submitting my name and I had to be vetted by the gardai. Realy some people might be insulted by this, what do they think I'm going to do??? But I know it's procedure so I go with it
It's not unusual, people in childcare, swimming coaches and realy most sports coaches do this.
It's not hard to track me in Ireland in fairness, they have my passport number, driving license number, all my schools and my PPS number. I don't know what else they need.

How exactly is a garda supposed to carry out a comprehensive check on somebody from a foreign country, any country.
Within the EU I'd hope there is a lot of cooperation and the gardai can get what they need.
And outside the EU? I'm sure the gardaí do the the best they can. But I'm not confident it's as rigorous as me from Tipperary or most of the posters here from Dublin.

I should have thought it obvious that someone who cannot prove their bona fides in a garda enquiry of this sort, wont get the job, thats assuming that noone would be so stupid to pass them on the basis of what evidence was available rather than fail them on the basis of the evidence NOT avaialable

corktina · 29-07-2010 08:57AM

Stonewolf wrote: »

How about signs that say "Leather Seats", "Aircon" or "Valeted Regularly"?

.

all meaningless...might as well put up a "non-rapist" sign.

Andrew33 · 29-07-2010 09:08AM

gaeilgegrinds1 wrote: »

We have Women-Only taxis here in Galway...so if that sticker is racist, this one is sexist! Political correctness can really be taken too far!

Now that is discriminatory, and yet its seen as ok to discriminate against males cos we're all misoginistic rapists who should be castrated at birth:rolleyes:

Andrew33 · 29-07-2010 09:10AM

robinph wrote: »

They won't take blokes as passengers?

Or children apparently.

Cookie_Monster · 29-07-2010 09:33AM

Surely the conditions attached to granting a licence cannot allow such discrimination?

Andrew33 · 29-07-2010 09:58AM

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

Surely the conditions attached to granting a licence cannot allow such discrimination?

You would think!

I'm sure the women (presumably the drivers are female) forgot to mention it to the relevant authorities when applying for their licence, not that it would have made a blind bit of difference, the anti discrimination laws have swung so far in the other direction that its now possible to discriminate against whites,males,young people, able bodied people etc etc etc. Pick whichever one suits your cause.

Cookie_Monster · 29-07-2010 10:17AM

Andrew33 wrote: »

You would think!

I'm sure the women (presumably the drivers are female) forgot to mention it to the relevant authorities when applying for their licence, not that it would have made a blind bit of difference, the anti discrimination laws have swung so far in the other direction that its now possible to discriminate against whites,males,young people, able bodied people etc etc etc. Pick whichever one suits your cause.

true

corktina · 29-07-2010 10:23AM

surely these are advertising a woman driver for the peace of mind of lone female passengers rather than "only women passengers carried"...surely....

Taxi with sticker saying 'Irish Taxi Driver'

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