Why have ride-hailing services like Uber and Bolt not entered the Irish market in the way they have in other countries? Uber currently operates in Dublin, but regulations mean it can only act as a booking agent for licensed taxi drivers (Uber Taxi) rather than a ride-sharing service. In practice, that means letting drivers, who are regulated for safety and service but aren’t licensed taxi drivers, use their own cars to provide rides. Nearly half of taxi users (49 per cent) said they would like the option to choose ride-hailing services. In December 2025, there were protests by taxi drivers in response to the introduction of a fixed-price fare option by Uber.

Source: The Irish Times February 19, 2026 16:33 UTC