Prostesting taxi drivers have agreed to end their demonstration on Dublin's O'Connell Street following a meeting with officials from the Department of Transport.
Driver representatives said this afternoon a number of their demands had been met and they have agreed to leave the street, which was blockaded by up to 150 taxis today and yesterday.
Frank Byrne, president of the Irish Taxi Council, said the Commission for Taxi Regulation agreed to the council's demands regarding the indentification of vehicles and "double jobbers".
Every application for a new small public service vehicle (SPSV) licence and every application for licence renewal must state if the applicant is fully employed elsewhere, he said.
The meeting between taxi drivers and the Department of Transport was described as "positive" by the taxi drivers. Further talks will take place on October 15th.
Mr Byrne said they were sorry for the disruption caused to commuters and businesses since Thursday morning but insisted they were forced to take the action after drivers depressed at their working conditions killed themselves.
"Drivers are very depressed at the moment, and sitting at a rank for hours on end doesn't help matters." He said drivers from outside Dublin were earning just €350 a week before tax, with most unable to get a loan.
"We apologise unconditionally to the travelling public and the traders for the inconvenience caused," Mr Byrne added. "We hope that they would understand that our drivers were driven to a level despair that they felt they had no option but to protest in that fashion."
Drivers had been protesting in Dublin city centre since yesterday morning at what they say is a lack of regulation in the industry.
Gardaí advised motorists to avoid Dublin's city centre as a result.
O'Connell Street was closed to traffic for several hours yesterday as more than 150 taxis from around the country parked along both sides of the thoroughfare.
Niall Moore, a taxi driver who travelled from Athlone to attend yesterday’s demonstration, said drivers’ income was down by 70 per cent as a result of supply outstripping demand.
Meanwhile, gardaí said there was traffic disruption in the Dublin Port area this afternoon due to a protest in support of striking Marine Terminals Limited workers.