The head of the Taxi Federation has accused some drivers of lending their cars to people without a taxi licence.

The allegation follows the arrest of a fake taxi driver in Dublin at the weekend.

The man, using a fake sign, was taking a female passenger home when he was pulled over by officers on Friday night.

The incident has prompted calls for tighter control by the taxi regulator.

Joe Heron, President of the Irish Taxi Drivers Federation, said: "It's somebody with a licenced taxi that would let somebody else drive it who isn't licenced. Well of course it isn't legal.

"If you don’t have a licence to drive a vehicle, a drivers licence, then you shouldn't be driving it."