Fuel protests enter third day across country
Protests across the country over high fuel prices have this morning (Thursday, April 9) entered a third day.
The protests, which began on Tuesday, have seen slow-moving convoys of tractors, trucks, buses and other vehicles on motorways.
A number of road closures are in place again today in Dublin city centre as a result of the protest on O'Connell Street and nearby streets.
This has impacted on some public transport services, including Dublin Bus routes and Luas green line trams.
Fuel protests
Protesters have called on the government to reduce fuel duties and remove carbon taxes on green diesel.
Previously, the government cut excise duty on green diesel by 3c/L, diesel by 20c/L and petrol by 15c/L.
However, the protesters say these measures were a "total insult to the farmers and contractors of Ireland."
The protesters are calling for a meeting with government, however the Taoiseach and senior ministers have stated they will engage with national representative bodies.
Protesters are also staging blockades at ports in counties Cork, Limerick and Galway, along with a key fuel refinery at Whitegate, Co. Cork.
Fuel industry officials have warned that disruption of deliveries may cause some garage forecourts to run out of fuel.
Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan has said that the blocking of critical national infrastructure will not be permitted to continue and the assistance of the Defence Forces has been requested.
The minister said that it is well established in law that the Defence Forces may assist An Garda Síochána in aid to the civil power, when requested and when required.
"Large vehicles blocking critical infrastructure will be removed.
"Owners of those vehicles should remove them immediately this morning and should not complain later about any damage caused to those vehicles during removal.
"Denying people access to fuel and clean water is an unacceptable interference in the most basic of human rights," he said.
Fuel depots
Tánaiste Simon Harris said that the blocking of the distribution of fuel is "a sinister and despicable attack on our economy and our society".
"This is not a lawless country. The laws of the land must and will be applied without fear.
"At a time of a major global energy crisis, blocking fuel from getting to people who badly need it is appalling in every sense and inflicts damage on our country and on individual people and businesses. It cannot be tolerated," he added.
Meeting
Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Simon Harris and Minister of State Seán Canney met with the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) yesterday. The association is not involved in the ongoing fuel protests.
In a statement following the meeting, the government said it "acknowledges the central role the haulage industry plays in our trading economy".
"So far, government has allocated €250 million in targeted supports to assist those experiencing real and immediate financial pressure - one of the most substantial packages introduced anywhere in the EU," it said.
The government said it will "continue to engage with national representative organisations and keep the situation under review".
On Friday, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon and Minister of State Timmy Dooley are due to meet "national representative bodies of contractors and farming organisations".
