A Cork taxi driver who refuses to accept card payments has said he is fully prepared to go to court to fight for his right to remain cash only.

Willie Wyse has said he cannot accept card payment as he closed his bank account following the banking crisis of 2008.

He is refusing to pay a fixed charge penalty notice he received over a year ago for failure to accept card – and has said he is “begging” the National Transport Authority (NTA) to take him to court over the issue.

On Lunchtime Live this afternoon, Mr Wyse said he rejects the NTA’s authority to force taxi drivers to accept cards – noting that the regulation introduced in September 2022 is “there to be challenged”.

“I have written to the Central Bank of Ireland, the Consumer Protection Commission and the Department of Finance to inquire, What is the legal tender currency in Ireland and do I have to take care of this law?” he said.

“The replies I got were that the only legal currency we have in Ireland and Europe is the euro – we have no other legal currency.

“In regard to the question concerning card, it's a commercial decision for any business, self-employed, sole trader, retail or whatever the case may be, on the type of payment they wish to engage in.

“It's a commercial decision if you want to take card or not – but if you don't want to take card or cash, you've got to display signage to let the customer know, which I've done in my taxi.

“It's emblazoned on the windows and it's on the dash so customers can clearly see and before they get into the car or when they are in the car, whichever the case may be, I inform them verbally as well.”

Constitution

He said he has no plans to open a bank account in order to take card payments.

“Under the Irish Constitution, there's nothing that specifies you must have a bank account – the same as a former Taoiseach didn't have one,” he said.

“Now, if the NTA can show me where in the Irish Constitution I'm obliged to have a bank account, I'll comply.

“I don't have one - I haven't had since 2010 - and to take a card payment, you need the bank account.”

“The judge will decide"

He said he has heard nothing over a year since refusing to pay his fixed charge penalty notice.

“Why are the NTA so afraid to go to court?” he asked.

“I'm prepared, I'm ready, I have all my stuff because, as I've explained, I sought the advice of the Department of Finance, the Central Bank - who govern all our finances - and the Consumer Protection Commission.

“Now, did all of them lie to me and give me misleading information? They'd be my witnesses when we go to court.

“I'm begging them to issue the summons. Let the judge decide. Is the Constitution more important or the NTA?

“The judge will decide.

“I can't decide it. You can't decide it. They can't decide it.

“They may think they can, but they can't – it is entirely up to a judge to make that decision. It's a Constitutional issue.”

He said he looks forward to putting the issue “to bed once and for all” should he receive his summons.

You can listen back here:

Main image: A taxi rank.