The Tánaiste Simon Harris said today (Wednesday, April 8) that there is "adequate" supply of fuel in Ireland against the backdrop of national protests over current prices.

Convoys of tractors, hauliers and contractors impacted on the flow of traffic on some of the country's key motorways and main arterial roads today as protesters continued to call for a cap on fuel prices.

Major routes around Dublin city centre were cut off as protesters with tractors shut down road access to O’Connell Street.

Separately fuel depots and access to ports were also blocked by protesters in Co. Galway and Co. Limerick.

Speaking outside Government Buildings today both the Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste were critical of the fuel price protests taking place across the country.

The Tánaiste said the protests were not in the national interests while the Taoiseach described them as "wrong" because they prevented people from going about their "day-to-day activities" - whether that was getting to work or medical appointments.

The Taoiseach also outlined that the government's policy is to meet with national representative organisations and did not indicate that it would meet with the groups that are currently protesting over fuel prices.

Government leaders were keen to stress that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East is beyond their control, and the Tánaiste specifically warned that Ireland will have to brace itself to expect a "period of economic challenge".

According to the Taoiseach, the Irish government is currently spending "nearly €4 million a day in alleviation measures" because of the Middle East crisis.

The Minister of State for Road Transport, Seán Canney, also speaking outside Government Buildings today, said that the government was conscious of the pain people are going through because of high fuel prices.

But in his opinion the protests have "added more pain" and he emphasised the importance of keeping the supply chain moving in Ireland and "getting product to market".

Minister Canney believes that protests that prevent fuel leaving depots at ports are "totally wrong".

As a result of the eleventh hour ceasefire agreed last night between the United States and Iran, oil prices have dropped back to under $100 per barrel.

But that is unlikely to bring any immediate comfort to fuel price protesters on the streets of Dublin or on roads across the country today.

Simon Harris is hopeful that this fall will be reflected at fuel pumps and that there should not be too much of a delay in prices coming down for businesses.

He believes the ceasefire presents a "brief but important window of opportunity to de-escalate and resolve the issues in the Middle East".

Fuel costs

It has also been confirmed that plans are being made for a third day of nationwide protests over fuel costs.

The People Of Ireland Against Fuel Prices Protest group said on social media:  “Gardaí have been notified in advance of Thursday’s nationwide fuel protest and are aware of the planned convoy routes and meeting points across the country”.

The group announced a series of gathering points across the country, including Dublin; Cork; Limerick; Donegal; Portlaoise; Tullamore; Athlone; Clare; Limerick; Wexford; Waterford; and Sligo.

“Families, workers, farmers, hauliers, recovery drivers, fishermen, builders, small businesses, and ordinary people can no longer carry the burden of crippling fuel prices, rising costs, and endless taxes,” the group said.

They added that the protest “will continue until the government listen to the people of Ireland”.

Additional reporting by Aisling O'Brien