mytaxi network Ireland (trading as FREE NOW)

Politician(s) lobbied: Roderic O'Gorman (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Michael Murphy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Pa Daly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Shane Moynihan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Siobhan Russell (Adviser to Minister), Department of Transport

Intent: To request that these concerns are raised with the Minister for Transport and to inform taxi policy considerations, supporting retention of the current regulatory framework while highlighting the risks associated with deregulation.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Simon Harris (Minister), Department of Finance; Peadar Tóibín (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: To highlight VAT liabilities affecting taxi drivers using digital platforms and to seek a meeting to discuss potential policy responses.

Methods: EmailVirtual Meeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Simon Harris (Minister), Department of Finance; Darragh O'Brien (Minister), Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment; Ken Spratt (Secretary General), Department of Transport; John Hogan (Secretary General), Department of Finance

Intent: To raise concerns about VAT liabilities affecting taxi drivers operating through digital platforms and to seek a meeting to discuss possible policy solutions.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Michael Murphy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Emer Currie (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Grace Boland (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Grace Boland (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Michael Collins (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Cathal Crowe (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Cathal Crowe (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Joanne Collins (Senator), Seanad; Lorraine Clifford-Lee (Senator), Seanad; Mark Duffy (Senator), Seanad; Roderic O'Gorman (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Imelda Goldsboro (Senator), Seanad; Shane Moynihan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Pearse Doherty (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Martin Conway (Senator), Seanad; Richard O'Donoghue (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Richard Boyd Barrett (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Barry Heneghan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Michael Fitzmaurice (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Catherine Ardagh (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Maeve O'Connell (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Louis O'Hara (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Ciarán Ahern (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Pa Daly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: To inform policymakers of the challenges and opportunities within the taxi sector, encourage attendance at the briefing, and engage with Oireachtas members regarding the report’s findings.

Methods: Event / ReceptionMeetingEmailPhone call

Politician(s) lobbied: Mairéad Farrell (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Edward Timmins (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Shay Brennan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Colm Burke (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Pearse Doherty (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Erin McGreehan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Aindrias Moynihan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Ged Nash (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Cian O'Callaghan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Cathal Byrne (Senator), Seanad; Alice-Mary Higgins (Senator), Seanad; Joe O'Reilly (Senator), Seanad

Intent: To raise concerns about VAT liabilities affecting taxi drivers who operate through digital platforms, and to seek meetings to discuss how this can be addressed through the discontinuation of the reverse-charge mechanism in VAT invoicing within the taxi sector.

Methods: EmailMeetingPhone callVirtual Meeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Seán Canney (Minister of State), Department of Transport; Jerry Buttimer (Minister of State), Department of Rural and Community Development; Ciarán Ahern (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Jennifer Whitmore (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Alan Kelly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Michael Murphy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Shane Moynihan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Grace Boland (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Michael Collins (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Cathal Crowe (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Emer Currie (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Pa Daly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Roderic O'Gorman (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Louis O'Hara (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Lorraine Clifford-Lee (Senator), Seanad; Joanne Collins (Senator), Seanad; Nessa Cosgrove (Senator), Seanad; Mark Duffy (Senator), Seanad; Imelda Goldsboro (Senator), Seanad

Intent: To highlight the challenges faced by Local Area Hackney drivers in delivering transport services to rural communities, and to secure meetings aimed at identifying practical solutions to support drivers and address these issues.

Methods: EmailVirtual Meeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Darragh O'Brien (Minister), Department of Transport; Siobhan Russell (Adviser to Minister), Department of Transport; Jennifer Whitmore (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Pa Daly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Ciarán Ahern (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Janet Horner (Councillor), Dublin City Council; Emma Blain (Councillor), Dublin City Council; John Moran (Mayor of Limerick), Limerick City and County Council; Peter Keane (Councillor), Galway City Council

Intent: To share a business update from FREENOW as a key player in Ireland’s public transport network, and to invite transport stakeholders to meet with FREENOW representatives to discuss the positive impact the move will have on Ireland's transport network.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Paschal Donohoe (Minister), Department of Finance; Pearse Doherty (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Cian O'Callaghan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Ged Nash (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: To highlight concerns and secure meetings to discuss concerns regarding VAT liabilitires for taxi drivers using platforms that use the reverse-charge mechanism and how this risk can be addressed.

Methods: EmailVirtual Meeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Darragh O'Brien (Minister), Department of Transport; Jennifer Whitmore (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Pa Daly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Ciarán Ahern (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Barry Heneghan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Richard Boyd Barrett (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: Outreach to the Minister for Transport and key transport representatives highlight issues impacting transport and the taxi sector.

Methods: EmailPhone call

Politician(s) lobbied: Richard Boyd Barrett (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Barry Heneghan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Paul Donnelly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Michael Fitzmaurice (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: To offer gratitude for support in strengthening the taxi trade, and to request a meeting to discuss issues impacting the taxi industry.

Methods: Email