Cork fuel protestor warns 'this will be bigger than Covid' if no intervention

A participant in today's fuel protests in Cork has said that diesel price increases will lead to a situation “bigger than Covid” if there is no reduction in taxes, and the public could be without food on their tables “within the next month”.

Agricultural equipment supplier Dave Mulcahy's comments came as the widespread protest saw thousands of commuters in the county impacted by traffic disruption today.

Hundreds of farmers, hauliers and other agricultural businesspeople came together across Cork in moving and parked convoys, which travelled along major roadways, with the aim of driving the government to reduce tax on fuel.

Speaking to The Echo, Cork-based business owner Mr Mulcahy, who was among more than 200 protestors at the Jack Lynch Tunnel, said there is “only one case scenario – no best case – the fuel prices need to come back down to what they were”.

“We’re out protesting because the fuel prices are too high,” said Mr Mulcahy.

“We’re facing a worldwide recession, things have to come down or the whole country is going to go broke.

“We’re not stopping traffic – we just can’t afford to move,” he added.

“We’re in the hard shoulder and the slow lane, and there is no emergency exit or emergency route that is blocked.

“We might be here again tomorrow too – it’s up to the government when they want to do something. This will be bigger than Covid, something has to give because people will have no food on their tables within the next month."

Areas that were impacted by the protest included Cork city centre, the South Ring Road, the N25, N20, M8, the N71 Skibbereen bypass, the Lakeview roundabout, the Shannonpark roundabout, Kinsale Road roundabout, the Jack Lynch Tunnel, Mallow, Macroom, Mitchelstown, Blarney and Midleton.

In Skibbereen, trucks and tractors lined the by-pass road along the N71.

Motorists in Cork city centre were also faced with delays during this evening's rush hour as another slow-moving convoy travelled from Kennedy Quay down Patrick St and along Anderson's Quay towards the South Link Rd, with some breaking off into Blackpool as they head North to Mallow and West to Ballincollig.

There were also further delays observed on the N71 near the Bandon Viaduct just outside the city.

Munster regional chair of the Irish Farmer’s Association (IFA), Conor O’Leary, said while the organisation was not involved in the protest, it is “imperative that the government brings in some sort of rebate to drop fuel prices”.