Finally the deregulation of the Irish taxi industry has come to pass. It has resulted in revolt among taxi-drivers, relief among the travelling public, and rumblings of unrest from some Fianna Fail backbenchers.
But whatever happens over the next few days, the orders have been signed and taxi-licences will be available to anyone with the money, the vehicle, the driving skills and a largely clean criminal record.
A small queue of people, wanting to be the first to benefit from the move, formed from early morning outside Dublin Corporation's offices yesterday.
All indications last night from the Government were that, despite the protests, it was full steam ahead.
The move was being seen as a particular success for the PDs, who hoped it would become associated with the party in the same way as the Tanaiste Ms Harney's ban on the sale of smokey coal, which ended smog.
There was some surprise from the Fianna Fail side that the Minister responsible, Mr Robert Molloy, the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, had not given more warning to the industry ahead of his announcement on Tuesday night.
Fianna Fail Ministers thought he would make personal contact with industry leaders and do what he could to lessen the blow and not give the taxi-drivers any further cause for grievance.
According to Government sources, the only thing now to be sorted out is the issue of compensation.
The Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, said yesterday he would make "appropriate measures" for tax allowances "to make it very simple that the actual cost that the person might have paid for a taxi-plate will be allowed as the same as part of the machinery".
He said the normal depreciation capital allowance rules would apply and that it was "the correct thing to do".
However, those wishing to benefit from this scheme must first have their tax affairs in order.
Further unwelcome news for some is that tax clearance certificates for taxi-drivers are under consideration by Mr McCreevy. The 750 taxi-drivers who paid £15,000 will be fully compensated through a local authority-administered scheme.
At the Fianna Fail parliamentary party meeting yesterday some Dublin TDs said they were unhappy with the outcome of the deregulation orders and that taxi-drivers should not be left at a major financial loss.
Mr Ivor Callely TD said if Mr Molloy's overriding consideration was to get more taxis on the streets quickly he should have spoken with taxi industry representatives before making the regulations.
"That would have been in the interests of all concerned and wouldn't have forced the industry to litigation or forced them into protest which is very regrettable.
"I gather that it is not a `one-day wonder' and it will be stepped up."
He hoped a formula would now be found to satisfy taxi-drivers over and above the compensation on offer.
"The orders have been signed and that's a matter of fact and we have to deal with that. Mr Molloy is after making his blunder and now he has passed it on to McCreevy and he will probably pass it on to the Revenue Commissioners."
There was little sympathy from Fine Gael for the drivers.
The party traffic spokeswoman, Ms Olivia Mitchell, said they should get back to work immediately and count themselves lucky that, unlike the rest of the working population, some of them will never have to pay tax again.
"This morning the public have neither taxis, trains, nor teachers and just for once the taxi debate should centre around the public's needs rather than what the taxi drivers will tolerate," she said.