Government faces off with protesters over fuel prices

By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association

Protests over the Government’s response to rising fuel prices are entering a third day, with actions so far involving the blocking of major routes and a refinery.

The cost of petrol, diesel, and marked gas oil (“green diesel”) has soared as a result of the war in the Middle East and impacts on supplies out of the Strait of Hormuz.

Just over two weeks ago, Ireland’s ruling coalition signed off on a range of measures to reduce fuel costs, including a temporary excise duty reduction for motor fuels, expansion of the diesel rebate scheme for hauliers and bus operators, and an extension of the fuel allowance.

It saw an effective reduction of 17 cent for petrol, 22 cent for diesel, and five cent for green diesel – but the savings were largely eroded as the war waged on.

Several distinct but co-ordinated protests manifested on Tuesday, involving slow-moving convoys on motorways as well as the blocking of major roads in Dublin and other cities.

Those taking part included hauliers and agricultural contractors using large trucks and tractors to disrupt traffic.

The demonstrations continued into Wednesday with escalations including the blockading of fuel depots and the Whitegate oil refinery in Co Cork, a move described by Taoiseach Micheál Martin as “an act of national sabotage”.

Other Coalition figures, including Tánaiste and Finance Minister Simon Harris, as well as Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan, emphasised the importance of access to fuel depots and warned of consequences for unlawful activity.

Martin also said it was “not acceptable” to turn Dublin’s main thoroughfare, O’Connell Street, “into a car park” as protesters used tractors to substantially clog up traffic in the centre of the capital.

Lines of buses were parked on the side of the city’s streets, while some of the busiest streets were empty.

Speaking to the Press Association on Wednesday evening, city-centre protest spokesman John Dallon said he hoped the dispute could be resolved through the Government committing to meeting him and two other participants.

“These people are not going to lie down.

“The only way they will go off of the streets here is if we send a message back to them that we have a meeting, then there’s a good chance that people will go home.

“But, I mean, if there’s no satisfaction out of the meeting, I’d say it’ll all heat up again.”

Senior Government figures said they would continue to engage with official national representative bodies and keep the situation “under review”.

There were similar protests at more than 20 other locations across the country, protesters said, while the chief executive of Fuels for Ireland, Kevin McPartland, said two depots in Foynes, Co Limerick, and Co Galway had been blocked by protesters.

He said there was a risk to supplies to petrol forecourts as a result.

An Garda Síochána  and emergency responders including Dublin Fire Brigade have reported disruption and delays as a result of the protests.

Members of the public have also reported missing hospital appointments.