Confusion over whether or not a key meeting of agri-sector stakeholders on fuel costs would include protesters gathered in Dublin seems to be now cleared up.

Agriland understands that the meeting - featuring farm organisations, contractor representatives and other industry bodies - is now underway at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in Dublin without the protesters being invited in.

As Agriland reported earlier, four nominated representatives from the fuel price protest planed to attend the meeting today (Friday, April 10) that is being hosted by three government ministers to discuss rising fuel costs.

A roundtable discussion is taking place with recognised representative organisations and government representatives at Agriculture House, the department's head offices.

The meeting includes representatives of hauliers as well farmer representative organisations and the Association of Farm and Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI).

The meeting is hosted by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon; Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien; and Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Timmy Dooley.

On his way into the meeting, Minister Dooley warned over the impact that blockading points of entry for fuel imports could have on fuel prices, telling journalists that fuel shipments coming from the Middle East as a result of the fragile ceasefire in the Iran conflict, that might be destined for Ireland, could be diverted elsewhere if they cannot be offloaded here.

A group of about half-a-dozen protesters arrived at Agriculture House, but did not gain entry, subsequently departing Kildare Street.

While there, one protester told journalists: "There's no one gone in there [to the meeting] that can represent us".

Another protester who arrived at Agriculture House, farmer and contractor John Dallon, said: "We were told there was a meeting last night. This morning it changed around. There's so much controversy around all of this. One minute there's a meeting then there's no meeting.

He claimed that some protesters in Co. Galway had been speaking to politicians in the area, and that it was indicated to the protesters that they would have representation at the meeting.

Dallon said: "All we wanted was to be able to step down the protest. We wanted to be able to get into 'Ag House', into talks, get a result. We had demands.

He added: "This shouldn't be where it is to the extent that it is... It's the government that's holding this country to ransom, not the protesters. We're having a peaceful protest."

In a subsequent social media post, the organisers of the fuel protest said there exclusion from the meeting "has only strengthened the resolve of everyone involved".

"We are now calling on people right across Ireland to come out and stand with us in support of fairer fuel prices and relief from the rising cost of living," the post on Facebook.

"This movement is about the people of Ireland being heard and standing together for change. Now is the time for the people of Ireland to rise together, stand peacefully, and show that this fight matters to every household, every worker, and every community in the country, the organisers said.

In another significant development, the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association (ICSA), one of country's main farm organisations, and whose AGM Minister Heydon recently attended, has also not been invited to the meeting, a move criticised by the farm organisation.

In Dublin today, O'Connell Street, the capital's main thoroughfare, remains impassable to traffic due the presence of a large number of tractors and lorries.