If taxi drivers were properly vetted we wouldn’t have this problem.

What the Irish taxi industry needs isn’t a sign of “owym noh wan a dem blackie c***s”, it’s an equivalent test to London’s “The Knowledge”. I don’t think it should be mandatory, but if you had a “knowledge” sign that could be only displayed by passing the test (with your grade on the sign) then that’d sort out the good & the bad cabbies

If it’s not racist, then presumably there’ll be no problem when non-Irish drivers put green lights on their cars too?

I don’t think its racist, but it is facilitating racists. That said, if you have a problem with it just don’t get into a taxi with the light on.

The thing is, the lights become worthless as soon as all the non Irish drivers buy them for their own cabs.

I just want to get into a taxi that will get me to my destination safely without me having to give directions, and one in which I don’t have to listen to the driver ranting about the state of the economy. I don’t think that’s too much to ask when I pay heavily for a service in Dublin.

I would happily be driven home by a zebra if it had a licence and knew the destination without me having to direct every 10mins. Race isn’t an issue, a weak bladder is.

So if this isn’t racist obviously the “No Irish need apply” advertisements weren’t racist….

I wonder will they forget to turn on their green light like they forget to turn off their roof sign light when there are passengers aboard.

I don’t care what nationality or ethnic origin they are once I don’t have to engage in banal conversations about the government/bailout/immigration/holiday location etc.

I voted yes because being Irish isn’t just for us white people. There are black and Asian Irish too and if a little light on top of the cab means I won’t be directing the driver all the way then I’m for that.

If the taxi is in Ireland, then it’s good enough for me, I don’t care who’s driving it – being in Ireland proves its Irishness as far as I’m concerned.

I had a recent encounter on Sussex Street in Dublin, as i was approaching the first cab to get in; The 2nd started to roar at me to get in, i asked him why… “because that guys as black as the ace of spades” came the reply. I was appaled and wrote to the taxi regulator to complain…. they have done nothing about it. Just really upsets me that my children will encounter such acts of racism.

Id better respray my John Deere.
People will be confused if they see a Polish guy in a green tractor.

I think there should be a sign that says they know the city and the quickest way to get from A to B rather than whether they’e Irish or not. I got a taxi from an African and he hadn’t a clue where he was going – went to Rathmines from Phibsborough via O’Connell bridge, likewise I got an Irish guy in Rathmines who didn’t know where Harcourt Street was. If a driver wants to put a green light on their car then so be it, the problem is that it will be pointless as the ‘foreigners’ that actually scam will cop on quickly and follow suit, therefore negating the practice in the first place!

I’m an Irish citizen and I’m not exactly white…I voted no as I think it’s unfair to judge. There are good and bad Irish and non-Irish taxi drivers. I have been ripped off by both and if I’m to be honest Irish taxi drivers rip me off more as to look at me they think I’m foreign, yet correct them on directions and I notice the meter jump up two quid…I think people should be happy they at least non-nationals are out their working for their money.

[*]It’s not racism at all, it’s just keeping the blacks from stealing all our money. We need to stand together, and look out for one another – and the blacks can do the same (Obama).

[*]Apartheid? We need it now! I don’t want the blacks mixing with my nice little white Irish kids.

[*] Slavery was morally just – it kept the blacks off the streets, selling drugs and committing other crimes.

—

That green light could be harmless, or it could be the start to the type of thinking I illustrated above. Racism is a natural thought process based on false dichotomy: us vs them. Those who supported racism (even slavery) in the past weren’t necessarily evil, ignorant or otherwise – they simply subscribed to this dichotomy (which was widespread) and took it to its logical conclusion.

I can’t emphasise enough how dangerous this is. So no, Taxi drivers shouldn’t be allowed to do this. It’s morally and ethically repugnant.

I have travelled home many times in a taxi and I had to direct the taxi driver all the way from the city centre….it made me feel anxious especially when the driver didn’t understand much of what I was saying. The thing is I don’t care what colour or race you are as long as I feel safe and comfortable being in a car with someone I do not Know.

Couldn’t care less about the little green light as long as I get home safe and for a decent price!

Aren’t green lights reserved for emergency doctor vehicles?

Wow some of the comments amaze me. If that is the case we should only go to the Tesco checkout with the Irish girl and not the pleasant Polish girl? Only ask the Irish barman for a beer even If his Spanish colleague asks you twice! Join the queue in McDonalds where the green light shows the Irish
Student is serving! The list goes on. Some of you here forget that we have faced similar situations in the past and we all would be up in arms if the Sydney taxi company promoted an Aussie only … Irish out policy.

Have “non-Irish” not earned the right to earn a living as a taxi driver? There are plenty of Irish people around the world trying to do the same whether they’re focussing on bar tending, accounting, building, or indeed driving a taxi.

This is not a sign of “Irishness”, it is a sign of a racist taxi driver.

If somebody gets overcharged, brought the wrong route, or have any other complaint against a taxi driver, please do the following:
1. Ask for a receipt
2. If he/ she won’t give a receipt, note their SPSV drivers licence number. It should be displayed on their ID.
3. If you can’t see any ID or it is not clearly visible, note the roof sign number and car reg.

When you have all or some of these details. Contact the Taxi Regulator, which is now under the control of the NTA, and lodge a complaint.

Don’t go on social media sites to bitch and moan about it! Nothing will be done about it. Don’t rehash other stories either – “a friend of mine got charged x amount by this driver”, etc!!

Cowboy taxi drivers can be black , white, irish and non Irish. End of..

So if green lights are okay, presumably other colours are as well – I mean, if we can be proud we’re Irish, we can hardly blame someone else from being proud of what they are, right?
So does anyone mind if I put a flashing blue light on top of my car? I’m not a taxi driver, I’m just ever so proud that I’m driving in Dublin, and so I have a flashing Dublin Blue light.
Honest.
Not trying to get people to get out of my lane at all.

I was under the impression that the green light showed it was available to hire not that it was Irish Driver . i have seen some taxi’s with a green white orange Flag on the roof sign indicates to me it is an Irish driver. !

Remember your ” guaranteed Irish” copy books when you were in school??? Not offensive then was it???

Jesus H Christ, the majority of people think this is ok?! Anybody remember “No dogs, no blacks, no IRISH”? Clearly not.
The casual racism in this country is as ever as appalling as it is (un)surprising. I would certainly make a point of not getting in a taxi that displayed such a signal. At least it would allow my to avoid the usual dimwitted racist diatribe many of them feel the need to unburden themselves with as soon as you get in.

Great idea, now I can avoid having my iq lowered dramatically by the gibberish I have to listen to whenever I need a taxi. Pick one without a green light and chances are they don’t speaks the English too good, and therefore won’t bother talking at all!

I’m delighted if all the racist cabbies have handy identifying green lights. I’ll avoid them like the plague.

Maybe, instead of a green light, you should ask non nationals to put a yellow star on their taxi? Or a red triangle? easy peasy….. now where have I heard something similar before….?

I would refuse to get into a taxi with a green light because I would refuse to get into a taxi with a racist and I’m as proud to be Irish as you can get. I love my country. But that does and should not mean that I don’t love other nationalities as well.

If it happened on Belfast or Derry would it be racist?

I’d rather walk home then get in a cab with a little green light. And Darren for Christs sake, getting into an immigrant’s taxi in Ireland IS buying Irish. If you’re in doubt, just think of what country you’re in when you sit in the cab. I’m genuinely disturbed that more people haven’t voted against this in the poll

Has anyone here ever seen a scatter at a Taxi rank when the police arrive?. I have and it’s mostly non nationals scattering when the police arrive because of welfare fraud, and breaking taxi regulations. I think at the end of the day it’s my money and I will always try pick a Irish driver.

It’s so depressing that the majority of people voting in this poll think this behavior is okay.

A blatant act of racism can not be right.

I don’t care where someone is from, I care if they can get me somewhere as quickly as possible for as cheap as possible.If the lights are being fitted to all cars , I’ve no problem, but if they’re being fitted to distinguish “Irishness” then there is a problem.

However, some of the comments here are ridiculous, a black taxi driver can be an Irish citizen too you know, that we “only want to support our countrymen” is disgraceful. I’m sorry, citing political correctness is how racists, bigots and the general ignorant of our society justify their opinions.

Furthermore, not only are you a citizen of Ireland, you are a citizen of the EU, and to have a light indicating the driver is Irish contravenes everything the EU is about. Yes, by all means “buy Irish”, but this cannot be compared to that. It doesn’t matter what nationality the person driving your taxi is- it is an IRISH taxi. The money earned is being spent here- the nationality of the driver is actually irrelevant so that cannot be used to excuse discrimination either.Oh and the ” I have non-Irish friends” excuse doesn’t wash with me either. Racism is racism.

There appears to be a large number of taxi drivers who : dont know their way around, can’t speak English adequately, are of dubious backgrounds, can’t be trusted. If that is true and the green kight is just an unofficial symbol of quality assurance then the regulator needs to do its job and put in place proper checks and exams and make the green light available to those fit to display it – regardless of nationality. The emergence of the green light and willingness to look for it are a result of poor regulation it seems.

Why don’t they all put a green light on their cars! Problem solved!

No. Simply racist and can only end up with more late night scenes of racism at taxi ranks.

How come companies like Centra and Supervalu constantly advertise the fact that they’re 100% Irish owned and operated yet when taxi drivers do it it’s racist?

I think it is a great idea to have them. The easier it is to identify these guys the easier it is to avoid them. Plus it means i will never have to uncomfortably sit as a taxi driver natters on about “foerigns” ruining this country

Patrick, I think that if you were Phil Lynott Lynott or Paul McGrath growing up that time and seeing this you might think differently. Also from another perspective as Michael Keelan points out if we should get rubbish service from a taxi report it, don’t just complain on social media

I personally think you should be able to put whatever you want on your own vehicle that you have paid for once it does not harm anyone..If you are insulted by it just don’t get into their cab.Simple but don’t tell them how they should use their own property.

I bet you Irish taxi men will end up wearing Irish jerseys during the busy Euro 2012 tournament :P Nothing they can do then!!

i think this is fine, it is the customer’s choice as to what taxi they avail of, be it a company or an individual !

A taxi driver living in the same estate as me was in trouble recently for allowing his brother to work in his taxi when he finished working, they are African (not sure which country). I think Irish drivers are angry because they couldn’t get away with doing that and it is certainly an unfair practice.

Either way, it’s illegal to display a light other than the regulation taxi sign.

If any marker were to be used, I’d jump in the camp of some here and suggest markings should be used to indicate:
Chattiness (or lack thereof)
Personal hygeine proficiency
Degree of disagreeability
Knowledge of the city/town they’re working in
Whether they pull out across lanes without signalling (for other drivers)
Whether they themselves tend toward racist, sexist or generally idiotic comments
Whether they have been convicted of a serious crime involving violence

That kind of rubbish stuff that is much less sexy than racism, but might indicate how your journey in the taxi will be.

The majority of the different ethnicity driver are naturalized Irish so what doe sit matter. plus it singles out the nationalist a***oles.

The green light is being used to infer the local knowledge I the driver is superior to that of other drivers due the nationality of that individual. That is racist. The quality of local knowledge can only be gauged by a governing body that can regulate the quality of drivers in that area. Connecting local knowledge with nationality only is short sighted and can insight feelings of racism.

I’m living in the country so don’t have taxis but when I do go out in Dublin I find the non white drivers or those considered foreign to be much nicer, more accommodating and their taxis in better condition than the white Irish people’s I have been in.
It’s only an observation I’ve made. So really if I had a choice I’d pick a “foreigner” any day.

This “issue” is a joke. Some people like irish taxi drivers because they are usually local and know the area including traffic paterns and are good for a bit of gossip and banter.
i personally couldnt care less where my driver comes from… but i feel people are being labeled infairly whenever they do things like this

People are encouraged to “buy Irish” when doing shopping , or to use Irish companies for insurance and whatnot, so what’s the difference from encouraging people to support Irish in one industry and another? I think it’s fine, it’s not racist, it’s simply a way of supporting Irish drivers in an economic recession. Not only that, but on numerous occasions Ive gotten taxi’s and the driver was non national, they hadn’t got a notion where they were going.It’s a persons right to choose what products they buy, or what shops they shop in, there’s no difference here.

I drive a taxi for a very small living and I can honestly say people want to hire Irish drivers for a number of reasons , I think they feel much more comfortable knowing the driver knows where he is going without the need of gps , the conversation is more relaxed and unfortunately we all here of the foreign people driving without insurance or valid documents . Obviously not all of them but why take a chance when you can travel with a legit Irish driver who toes the line. I don’t have a green light but understand the drivers who do , it gives the customer the opportunity to make there own choice .

I ll vote yes – why, because as customers we should be able to decide who we give bussiness too, a customer does not owe bussiness to any particular provider nor should they be obligated to provide services to bussinesses in any particular ratio – its basic economic freedom.
More information allows customers to excercise their freedom – be it to have an Irish driver or to aviod someone they might consider a bigot. In short they should be free to represent themselves and their bussiness anyway they see fit – and we the consumer will remain free to judge them on it.

There are a lot of very good arguements here for both sides on this.

I disagree with the use of this light because I feel the reason certain taxi drivers are using them is much more sinister than some wish to believe.

If it’s not, then at least it appears to be and that’s just as big an issue.

The problem with racism is like you get coward racists,i for one dont mind a reasonable debate with a proper racist,if u want to be racist at least be bold enough to say yes im racist,this is my opinion and i believe in it because….i will take a neo-nazi over this uneducated bigots anyday,i am black but grew up here i have spoken to people on the phone that end up typing my name tadgh cos they thought i was irish born and bred which im not,so what is to say i dont know dublin city as much as a “local” anyone that doesnt think its casual racism needs their head checked,supporting irish products is different for supporting irish people only,so if you go to spar and a pakistani national attends to you at the counter,what economy do you think you supporting,same as getting into a taxi doesnt matter where you from you are supporting the irish economy,and lets cut the bull shit with all foreigners send there money home,so what once i pay my taxes whatever i do with the rest of my money is my business in saying that with the amount of taxes paid in ireland doubt that may taxi drivers have much to send home anyway,my parents went to college in ireland in the 50s my nan still lives in africa i can count the times they used western union,only occasional times and with a lot of irish people(young especially) living abroad im sure a lot of irish families will be using western union and back to western union surely western union pays their taxes in ireland so using them is boosting the irish economy again.And lets cut out all the fantasy stories of foreigners being given a lamborgini on arrival and a gaff in foxrock,do people really think the irish government will give all those ammendities to people who cant even vote are people really that daft???!!,i lived there all my life never got a simple penny from the government because my mom who did medicine in england under thatcher believed in thatcherism and hates having to get any handouts from governments,the problem in ireland is unlike england the media doesnt promote black folks achieving stuff in england u cant really go on and generalize because for every bad black man you have black doctors engineers sportsmen people of excellence,but if anyone wants to see non-nationals thriving and contributing to irish society go to any medical wards in ireland and see non-national doctors and nurses go to royal college of surgeon and see excelling non-national students who fork out 50odd grand to go to college hear,and if anyone wants to take me on a debate please do but dont say you not a racist admit to it and we can go from there i will respect you more,had a debate with a bnp memeber while visiting my cousins in england lately wasnt pretty but was more interesting cos he admitted hating blacks and stated his reasons i challenged him on it we ended up having a pint i doubt i changed his mind about blacks but i certainly changed his mind about me

I think there’s a typo in the poll; where it says “Yes, I think it’s fine.”

It should read:

“Yes, but that’s because i’m kind of racist.”

well if you can show me a link of one of such cases i will applaud you you seem to come up with assumptions and hearsay oh didnt we hear all irish people acted like the people in silent man and drank in a bar somewhere in inishfree???,a lot of those doctors are doing mightily fine in hospitals all over ireland its hard to fake being a doctor you will get found out in a day dumb ass,oh heard about the irish in australia faking their building credentials see you cant make assumptions over a bad bunch now next argument please…..

Whether we like it/admit it or not. There is a generation or Irish people that lived the majority of their lives never seeing or speaking to a non-Irish person. There is always a fear of the unfamiliar and I’m sure Taxi drivers have picked up on this. Personally I don’t have a problem with this. However I find it abhorrent that the Nanny State feels it has to intervene. Since when has it become an act of racism or shame by displaying your nationality???

Wow, Ireland! Time to teach your kids about the dangers of xenophobia and racism.,.

I think Irish Taxi drivers have suffered more than any other area of business in this counrty because of deregulation. If its guaranteed Irish then so what? theres nothing to stop other nationalities doing the same to show what nationality they are.

Be Jaysus, I’d better lose the “Kiss Me Quick I’m Irish” Tee-shirt before anyone from the PC Police catches me!!!

I prefer to get a taxi with a non national! Gives me the cance to learn about his country and we can both moan about the things we don’t like about Ireland without any problems, because we can’t do that anywhere else. Even though what we dislike is often the same as what our irish brethren dislike, only our name prevents us from speaking out. Watch the shower of dislikes :-D

i say yes.most irish people know where they are going and you can have a proper conversation with them.

That’s a bit like saying our “guaranteed Irish” logo is racist. Bulls**t. We are allowed to choose where we shop, eat, drink Etc Etc. why not have the ease of choice as to who drives us home? Support Irish all the way.

next time you are in a hospital in the emergency ward and a black doctor comes to treat you refuse him too because you want to keep ireland irish and see if u go and live in an irish paradise after u die of ignorance u tool!

Inatead of a green light why don’t the taxi drivers do what the Fox News helicopter from the Simpsons does. Go around, emblazoned with the phrase “we’re not racist, but we’re number one with racists”.

Cliff though I think you are mostly right your self-righteousness is sickening.

fair enough susan

Why are there non Irish nationals driving cabs in Ireland anyway… don’t we have visa and work permit systems here?

When I visit Ireland as a tourist I want to have the Irish experience… I don’t want to have to deal with slippery Nigerians or surly Eastern Europeans as soon as I set foot outside the airport. This goes from hotels, car hire desks, hotel receptions. Part of the reason many people come to Ireland is to meet and interact with Irish people… we are losing a uniqueness.

If I want to be scammed and cheated I will go to Lagos, thank you very much.

Call me a wacist if you will… but I have traveled and experienced enough around the world to know what I am talking about.

and let cut the crap about the english once you give a taxi driver directions they know were they are going i personally have more craic with irish drivers but wont say i will not get into a non-irish taxi man’s car,and if you so proud to be irish will there be a symbol for irish drivers that can speak the native language irish too???

The question posed is; do you think cabs should be allowed display signs to show the cab is being driven by an Irish national? It never mentions a persons skin colour or country of origin, merely that they are a citizen which would infer a level of knowledge of the locale. I do think it’s great though that our new Irish have so many people on here to be offended on their behalf. Very right on. Just to be clear; black people are Irish too.

Well said Tai!

u clearly showed how much of a tool you are im not gonna call you a racist admit you are a racist i have visited many countries too not all africans are nigerians for starters you dimwit,and to drive a taxi you must have a work permit or probably naturalized so u have shown your lack of knowledge on the issue,my mum is american and when i lived there you had irish people scamming selling drugs and working illegally i wont use that as a basis of my judgment of irish people most foreigners abroad are those in desperate situations and they tend to be of the nature to be scammed but generalizing a population of 160 million plus people shows how idiotic you are

why are you deleting my comment

notice how they got rid of our green buses. the EU is behind it. it doesnt want countries displaying individualism or nationalism. it wants to jumble up all nationalities through forced integration. thats why theyve become overly biased about rascism to the point they are actually causing friction. the buses are now blue and yellow which is the colours of the EU flag

the traffic lights turn blue tomorrow

If ur racist so what? Is that a crime of the century. Would prefer to get in to a Irish cab drivers car any day!

I think it’s a freedom of speech issue

At the end of the day the majority of people say yes its ok THATS IT end of ,respect the outcome,when we vote at the end of the month no matter what the outcome the majority if final so just respect that and stop trying too b so “P,C”

fair play to ya one doctor and by the way he was qualified by the royal college of surgeons so they must have some serious cock-up and again he was dismissed straight away u are basically proving my point could have easily been an irish doctor so your point being?

They took our jobs!

Michael, Don’t want to be repetitive, but please, go and read the reploes to similar reactions as yours and you’ll find out why you are wrong!

oops, can’t believe it! More spelling mistakes.’ replies ‘of course! ;-)

Fiachra , your comments made me think..thank you. Taxi drivers are the same the world over. some great others crap . its a shame the taxi industry is so unregulated that people have to resort to relying on something like the green light. we should consider 2 of Ireland’s most reconizable figures arePhil Lynott and Paul McGrath. i wonder what both would think about this.