Government announces €505m in fuel-cost measures after protests

By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association

Further reductions of duties on fuel and a delay in a carbon tax increase have been announced by Taoiseach Micheál Martin after an emergency Cabinet meeting agreed on a response to the fuel crisis following major protests.

The size of the package announced on Sunday is around €505 million, and comes on top of €250 million worth of measures announced almost three weeks ago.

The protests – including blockades of Ireland’s only oil refinery and other key depots – strangled fuel distribution across the country and prompted an escalated policing response that resulted in several arrests amid clashes between public order units and protesters.

Participants – largely led by hauliers, farmers, and agricultural workers – began distinct but coordinated action on Tuesday with slow-moving convoys and outright stoppages on major motorways, as well as blockades of critical infrastructure which had largely wound down by midday on Sunday.

The protesters had called on the Government to take urgent action to reduce fuel costs which they say are at unsustainable levels and will lead to people going out of business.