Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon will meet national representative bodies of contractors and farming organisations this Friday (April 10) to discuss cost pressures amid rising energy and fuel prices.

He will be joined by Minister of State at DAFM, Timmy Dooley.

That meeting follows a meeting which took place today (Wednesday, April 8) between government leaders and the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA).

Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Simon Harris and Minister of State Seán Canney had a wide-ranging discussion with the IRHA, including the pressures being faced by hauliers due to high costs.

Thousands of hauliers, contractors and farmers have been blocking routes and ports across the country for the past two days to highlight the urgency of the pressure they are now facing.

Fuel costs

Today, the leaders confirmed the government will continue to engage with the IRHA on the impact of the ongoing war on the cost of fuel.

A spokesperson said the discussions were constructive and form part of a series of meetings between the industry and government. 

The government stated that it acknowledges the central role the haulage industry plays in the trading economy, including the transportation of goods and keeping shelves across the country stocked.

Support

So far, the government said it has allocated €250 million to assist those experiencing real and immediate financial pressure.

This package includes reduced excise on petrol and diesel, a reduction in the NORA levy, and an expanded diesel rebate scheme to provide targeted relief to haulage and bus passenger operators, which is backdated to January.

The Irish Government has also welcomed news of the ceasefire between the US and Iran overnight.

"We note that since the announcement, the price of oil on international markets has reduced," a spokesperson for the government said.

The government has said it will continue to engage with national representative organisations and keep the situation under review.