O’Connell Street in Dublin has reopened to traffic after widespread disruption earlier today due to a protest by taxi drivers.
More than one hundred drivers are still parked along O'Connell Street in protest at worsening working conditions.
They say they will continue overnight, or until the Transport Minister Noel Dempsey addresses their concerns, if necessary.
Buses and cars are now passing through the street, but taxi drivers not participating in the action are being prevented from accessing the street.
From lunchtime to 7pm, O'Connell was closed both ways to all vehicles due to the protest.
The taxi drivers are protesting against what they say are worsening conditions in the industry.
The Irish Taxi Council says taxi drivers have travelled from Waterford, Galway and other areas to take part in today's demonstration.
A spokesperson for the Department of Transport said the Taxi Regulator is compiling a report with recommendations on the next steps for the industry. The move follows a recent public consultation.
Socialist Party MEP Joe Higgins joined the protest and called on Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey to meet the drivers' representative.
He said the Minister should, 'accede to the simple and straightforward request of the Irish Taxi Council's president Frank Byrne to meet and discuss the plight faced by drivers trying to earn a basic income'.
Earlier in the day, the Commission for Taxi Regulation has released a statement saying the taxi market is now liberalised and therefore there are no quantitative controls on the number of operators.
It added that the Commission was committed to reform, including raising the overall standards required to get a taxi licence.
Further disruption is expected tomorrow morning and Gardaí said that a separate protest about a different issue in Dublin Port was planned for tomorrow and that traffic will be disrupted from around 3.30pm to 6.30pm in and around the port area.
