In a widely shared TikTok video, Irish TD Richard Boyd Barrett has launched a strong critique of app-based rideshare platforms operating in Ireland, including Uber, Bolt and Free Now. Speaking candidly, Boyd Barrett argues that the current rideshare model “doesn’t work through the Irish tax system” and places disproportionate pressure on both drivers and passengers.
In the clip, Boyd Barrett claims that the major apps do not provide drivers, do not train drivers, and do not invest in the service, yet continue to extract profits from every trip. He suggests this comes at the expense of driver livelihoods and passenger fares, particularly through surge pricing and what he describes as “junk fees”.
He also raises concerns about regulation, stating that the National Transport Authority (NTA) should consider developing its own publicly run booking app. According to Boyd Barrett, this could offer a fairer, properly regulated alternative that prioritises transparency, driver income and passenger protection rather than shareholder profit.
In the TikTok description accompanying the video, Boyd Barrett says he recently pressed for answers directly from Uber, Bolt and Free Now, meeting representatives across the sector — from driver groups to the platforms themselves. He also confirms that he brought taxi drivers’ demands to the Taoiseach, calling for a system that “protects livelihoods and ensures a fair deal for drivers and passengers alike”.
DM Commentary
This video will resonate far beyond Ireland. Many of the issues raised — surge pricing, opaque fees, and platforms taking a cut without providing vehicles, training or long-term investment — are exactly the same frustrations drivers voice in the UK and across Europe.
The idea of a state-backed or regulator-run booking app is especially interesting. On paper, it could remove middlemen, keep more money with drivers, and give passengers clearer pricing. In practice, it would require serious funding, technical expertise and political will — but it shows just how far confidence in the current app-based model has eroded.
What’s clear is that the debate around rideshare apps is shifting. It’s no longer just about convenience and technology — it’s increasingly about fair pay, taxation, accountability and who actually benefits from the modern transport economy.
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