Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien said there is ‘no intention’ of taking up the watchdog’s recommendation. Photograph: Bryan O’BrienRide-sharing services such as Uber, through which private drivers offer taxi services using their own car, will not be introduced to the Irish market, despite calls for doing so this week. On Thursday, Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien pushed back firmly on a recommendation from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) to remove regulatory barriers to such services common in other countries. “The model where anyone with a private car (not licensed as a small public service vehicle) and an app can provide taxi services does not exist in Ireland,” O’Brien said. “We support the Taxis for Ireland Coalition call for a national taxi strategy that strengthens the market while supporting a well regulated industry,” the group added.

Source: The Irish Times February 19, 2026 15:43 UTC