Taxi drivers have concluded their protest against deregulation of the industry and the erosion of full-time drivers' wages.
Forty drivers gathered outside the Dail after more than 250 had driven into the city as part of their protest. Taxi drivers' unions had advised members to stop work until 4 p.m. A Garda spokeswoman said the action had not caused "significant" traffic disruption.
Anecdotal evidence also suggests the withdrawal of service between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. was not followed by all drivers and that a limited service remained.
Gardaí had estimated over 1,000 taxis would take part in the protest, prompting fears the city will be gridlocked, but the smaller number of cars involved caused little if any disruption.
The protest is being staged - on the second anniversary of deregulation - by members of the National Taxi Drivers' Union of Ireland, the Irish Taxi Drivers' Federation and SIPTU.
A similar protest in Waterford his afternoon caused traffic to come to a standstill at lunchtime.
The Minister for Transport Mr Brennan announced yesterday a taxi regulator would be established by February 2003 on a non-statutory basis, one of the demands of the taxi unions.
A spokesman for the National Taxi Drivers' Union said the Minister's announcement had come too late to call off the protest.
Since deregulation the number of taxis has increased from 4,000 to 12,000.