For further information:
Louise Zayed
Senior Press Officer
Tel: +353 1 419 3428
louise.zayed@tv3.ie
Kevin Shore
Press Officer
Tel: +353 1 419 3387
kevin.shore@virginmedia.ie
publicity@tv3.ie
TV3 GROUP NEWS RELEASE IMMEDIATE: Tuesday 31st March 2009
GOVERNMENT MINISTER CONDEMNS TAXI DRIVERS AFTER TV3 NEWS INVESTIGATION SPARKS RACISM ROW
Minister for Labour says "Law is Colour Blind"
Head of Drivers Federation Threatens to Cut of Relations with Cork Branch
The refusal by a group of taxi drivers to accept non-nationals into their union has been condemned by a Government Minister.
Minister for Labour Billy Kelleher TD was responding to a TV3 News investigation which revealed that the Cork Branch of the Irish Taxi Drivers Federation is not accepting membership applications from non-nationals.
When asked by Southern Correspondent Paul Byrne whether race or colour should play a part in these decisions, he said: "Certainly not. The law is colour blind and there are plenty of laws to deal with that kind of thing."
A number of foreign drivers have told TV3 News that they have been rebuffed in their attempts to join the union. Tensions came to a head on Monday when many crossed picket lines during a twenty four hour national work stoppage by drivers.
They say it is offensive and not good for working relationships.
Michael Akinsanya, a driver originally from Nigeria, said: "For now, they said we should not take coloured people. We are not here to fight, we are here to work. We are all human beings."
Fellow driver Kelly Kelani, also from Nigeria, said: "On Monday they asked us not to work. Fine, but then when we went to the union they refused us."
Local Branch Secretary Derry Coughlan confirmed that membership is only open to Cork drivers. He said "The policy was enshrined in the branch's constitution".
John Ussher, head of the national Irish Taxi Drivers Federation, also condemned it. He said: "If foreign nationals are not allowed to join then I will have to review our situation and working relationship with the Cork Association."
Log on to www.tv3.ie/news to watch the report.
ENDS.
For Further Information:
Maureen Catterson
TV3 PRESS OFFICE
+353 1 419 3430
maureen.catterson@tv3.ie; publicity@tv3.ie
www.tv3.ie
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