Freenow highlights critical threats to taxi industry at Oireachtas Committee today
The deeply damaging impacts of deregulation, continued safety concerns, and hidden VAT liabilities raised with the Transport Committee
Freenow by Lyft urges the Government to take action on serious issues facing the taxi industry during appearance before the Oireachtas Transport Committee today.
Drawing on Freenow’s recent report Supporting the Long-Term Growth of the Taxi Industry in Ireland, Danny O’Gorman, General Manager at Freenow by Lyft Ireland, discussed critical threats to driver livelihoods and the sustainability of the taxi industry in Ireland to ensure taxis continue to provide a reliable door-to-door service to passengers.
In particular he highlighted concerns surrounding calls for deregulation, driver and passenger safety, and hidden VAT liabilities facing drivers:
Impact of deregulation: O’Gorman warned against the campaign for deregulation and ‘hyper-growth’ from the Taxis for Ireland Coalition, supported by Uber and Bolt, which would see taxi drivers lose nearly €400 a month.
Safety concerns: Freenow data reveals that 64% of drivers have ended shifts early due to safety concerns. This has a knock on effect on passengers, who are left stranded and feeling unsafe. O’Gorman will emphasise the need to address driver concerns through targeted enforcement, dedicated support channels, and equal inclusion in transport policing measures in order to sustain a reliable, nationwide taxi service.
Hidden VAT liabilities: As a result of the reverse charge model used by Uber, around 8,000 taxi drivers are unknowingly non-compliant with Revenue. This hidden VAT liability threatens drivers numbers with direct impact on passengers and can damage drivers’ incomes. While journeys with Freenow don’t impose any VAT liability on drivers, many drivers use multiple platforms and are unaware of this liability with Uber.
Danny O’Gorman, General Manager at Freenow by Lyft Ireland, said: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to appear before the Oireachtas Committee on Transport and discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the taxi industry in Ireland.
“We have seen steady growth in the taxi industry over the last couple of years, with Freenow reaching an all time high in supply hours in 2025 and in a recent general population survey 80% of respondents told us they find it easy to book a taxi via an app. However, there are a number of critical challenges which jeopardise our industry. In particular, safety concerns and hidden VAT liabilities. Increasing numbers of drivers opting out of night work due to safety concerns means that more people will be left stranded without a secure way home. Additionally, taxi apps operating under the reverse-charge mode are placing the burden of VAT on taxi drivers without their knowledge. This is a completely unacceptable practice that needs to be eliminated.”
Freenow by Lyft has a cooperation agreement which works alongside its partner drivers. Central to Freenow’s Irish operations is a regular consultation process, ensuring all major strategic decisions are jointly shaped by Freenow and partner drivers.
ENDS
Notes to the editor:
Supporting the Long-Term Growth of the Taxi Industry in Ireland is available to download here.
About Freenow by Lyft
Freenow by Lyft is the European taxi app featuring broad multi-mobility options for everyone across 9 European markets and over 180 cities. Millions of passengers can access various mobility services within a single app, including taxis, private hire vehicles, carsharing, car rental, e-scooters, e-bikes, e-mopeds and public transport. With headquarters in Hamburg, Germany, Freenow is led by CEO Thomas Zimmermann.
In July 2025, Freenow was acquired by Lyft, a global mobility platform offering a mix of rideshare, taxis, private hire vehicles, executive chauffeur services, car sharing, bikes, and scooters across 6 continents and thousands of cities. Millions of drivers have chosen to earn on billions of rides. Together, Freenow and Lyft are helping to create a more connected world, with transportation options for everyone.
Visit our website for further information and download the Freenow app.