Ireland: O’Leary under fire after registering his own car as a taxi
The Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has drawn widespread anger and criticism after it emerged he has registered his private car as a taxi to avoid Dublin’s traffic jams.
News reports say O’Leary spent some £4,300 to buy a taxi plate for his Mercedes, meaning he can now drive along restricted bus lanes and avoid the worst of the city’s traffic.
While Ryanair has admitted that O’Leary did recently buy the licence, with a spokesman adding: “What Mr O’Leary does is up to him,” the move has been less well-received in other quarters.
A spokesman for the Irish Taxi Drivers’ Federation told the online news provider Ananova that O’Leary was giving “two fingers” to other motorists. He said: “Not only is it offensive to people in the business, it is also offensive to every motorist on the roads. It is equal to giving the two fingers to everyone else. My message to him would be to get out of the bus lanes and get out now.”
There is presently nothing in Irish law that prevents Mr O’Leary – or anyone else – applying for a taxi licence.
