Stakeholders impacted by fuel costs and the ongoing fuel price protests have been asked to approach the issues with "calm and measured judgement" ahead of a crunch meeting today (Friday, April 10).

The call came from the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS), which will be among the stakeholders taking part in a meeting with Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon today.

ICOS will be represented at the meeting by its president Edward Carr, and CEO TJ Flanagan.

Carr called on all sides to allow space for constructive dialogue, and a focus on keeping the country moving.

"We have huge concerns for all sectors of the community during these uncertain times. Co-operatives and their members are massively exposed to increased fuel and energy costs," he said.

"At the meeting we will call on the government to continue to work to increase the level of supports," he added.

"We request the government immediately and substantially increase the flat rate addition for non-VAT registered farmers to compensate for the increased VAT associated with sky-high fuel prices," Carr said.

"Feed mills are shutting down due to lack of ingredients, diesel supplies are running out for hauliers and workers," the ICOS president said.

He added: "The protesters have made their point with a maximum impact but they must also reflect very carefully on any extent to which the current levels of severe disruption could possibly continue."

Meeting

A roundtable discussion will take place later today with government representatives, farmer representative organisations, hauliers and contractors over rising fuel costs.

The meeting will be hosted at Agriculture House in Dublin by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien and Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Timmy Dooley.

There seems to be a lack of clarity as to whether or not protestors who are not members of a national representative group will be allowed to attend the meeting.

Those protestors with trucks, tractors and buses on national routes and who have blockaded fuel depots in Galway, Limerick and Cork have said that the protests can end if the Tánaiste and Taoiseach agrees to meet them.