Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon has insisted that "government recognises the urgency of providing solutions for all" amid ongoing fuel protests.

In a statement this afternoon (Sunday, April 12), Minister Heydon said that government is "formulating a temporary fuel support scheme to provide support for critical sectors that impact everyone's cost of living".

"Over the course of recent days, I've been engaged in intensive negotiations and discussions with representative groups, listening to the concerns of my constituents and working with government colleagues," the minister said.

"I acknowledge the impact of increased costs for everyone as a result of the war between Iran, USA and Israel.

"From individuals and small businesses, to the most vulnerable in society, the fallout from this conflict is impacting all.

"As a cabinet minister I have used my position to work with colleagues on devising the next round of supports for all."

Cabinet is meeting later this afternoon to "progress these interventions", Minister Heydon said.

No confidence motion

Sinn Féin TDs and senators met this morning and will be moving a motion of no confidence in the government, party leader Mary Lou McDonald has said.

"The actions of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and independents have been disastrous," she said.

"They have lost the confidence of the public.

"It is clear that they still are not listening and do not accept the scale of this fuel and cost of living crisis.

"All reports indicate it will be more of the same half measures from them this evening. This is unacceptable."

'Costs continue to soar'

In a statement this afternoon, Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns said the protests are a "manifestation of how desperate many people feel as costs continue to soar - not just for fuel, but for everything in this country". 

“People are increasingly struggling to pay for the basics - food, energy and housing - and the government is just not listening to them. They are out of touch and out of ideas," deputy Cairns said.

She said that the Social Democrats has "no confidence in this government’s ability to manage this crisis" - and, for that reason, "we will support the no confidence motion in them".

Independent Ireland has also said it will "fully support" the proposed motion of no confidence in government.

"This government has failed to listen and failed to address the concerns of people across Ireland," it said.

"This is not limited to hauliers, farmers and contractors, but extends to hard-working people throughout the country who continue to struggle under the policies of this and previous governments."

Blockades stood down

Fuel protests around the country have entered their sixth day.

The protests, which began on Tuesday, have seen slow-moving convoys of tractors, trucks, buses and other vehicles and blockades on motorways, roads and ports.

An Garda Síochána has had operations ongoing over the weekend at a number of sites where blockades have been in place, to "ensure critical supplies of fuel to maintain critical emergency public services, including ambulance and fire services".

In one of the latest developments, this afternoon, the blockade at Foynes Port in Co. Limerick came to an end. The blockade at Galway Port also ended this morning following a Garda operation.

Gardaí have also continued to assist with critical deliveries at Whitegate Refinery in Co. Cork with a convoy of trucks accessing it this morning.

Updates earlier today from An Garda Síochána also showed an operation on O'Connell Street in Dublin City to "remove all illegally parked vehicles".