Taoiseach accuses Sinn Féin of trying to engineer fuel protests

By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association

Sinn Féin is trying to “engineer protests” by accusing the Government of increasing fuel prices, the Taoiseach has said.

Soaring fuel prices in April as a result of the war in the Gulf spurred protesters, largely led by hauliers, farmers and agricultural workers, to engage in large-scale mobilisations in search of Government intervention for the operating costs.

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 participants.

The Government announced hundreds of millions of euros in support for industries severely affected by fuel prices, including cuts in excise duty on petrol, diesel and marked gas oil (“green diesel”) to the end of July.

It has been reported that protesters are considering further action to coincide with the ending of those supports.

Sinn Féin finance spokesman Pearse Doherty told the Taoiseach in the Dáil on Wednesday that “ordinary folks” will “once again be hit with rip-off prices at the pumps” in July if the Government does not intervene.

He said the Government had voted to pass the Finance Bill last week, while opposing Sinn Féin amendments to “stop your fuel hikes”.

Doherty said this would see diesel go up by 32 cent and petrol by 27 cent, the rates at which excise was cut by Government in April.

However, the Taoiseach said the Government did not vote “to increase anything”.

He told Doherty: “The Government reduced petrol and diesel excise by 32 cents and by 27 cents. We didn’t increase it.

“Clearly you’re all about politics and not about policy – and you have played politics last week with this, and you’re playing politics this week with it.

“You kind of cleverly put in a few amendments last week to get voted down, and then you turn it around and say the Government are voting for increases.

“It’s a game you’re at.”

Micheál Martin told the Dáil there was “some distance to go” before the end of July and said there was a need to monitor the markets.

“You put the amendments down last week, so you could then make the allegation that we are increasing prices, so you could try and engineer protests.

“That’s what’s going on. That is what’s going on. I’ve seen the Facebook page, I’ve seen it all.”

The Taoiseach said international and domestic fuel prices will inform the Government’s “decision-making process”.

“The Government will keep this under review.”