'We're not looking for handouts' - fuel protestor
“We’re not looking for handouts, we’re looking to stay in business,” one of today’s fuel protestors told Agriland.
These comments were made as protests took place across the country today (Tuesday, April 7), in response to soaring fuel costs due to the ongoing war in the Middle East.
The slow-moving convoys, including tractors and trucks, have led to traffic disruption in some areas, including along motorways and in Dublin city centre.
Geoghegan, an agricultural contractor based in Westmeath who spoke to Agriland on behalf of the protestors, said: “It’s not a protest by any one organisation.
“This was organised by hauliers, agri-contractors, and agri-parts businesses. It started on TikTok only one week ago and exploded.
“Nobody can understand how this got so big so quickly.”
He added that participants would be "disappointed with" organisations that are taking part in today's protest
Fuel prices
“The price of fuel is the reason we’re here,” Geoghegan said.
“We have a government who’s not reducing price.
“We’re not looking for handouts, we’re looking to stay in business.”
Geoghegan highlighted that the plant and building sectors have been especially impacted by the rising fuel costs.
He said: “With the rise of fuel costs, a new house is going up €30,000 in the last month.
“This will have a devastating effect on Irish economy: If you have no building going on, you’re gearing up for a recession.
“The government can’t see what’s happening, but we’re at the coalface.”
Geoghegan added that the cost of fuel is having a knock-on effect across industries, and that, in some cases, purchases of new machines “are being put on hold”.
He said: “How do you make fuel bills and machine repayments?
“This is so serious – it’s an economy falling down around us.”
Price caps
While there have been some government steps to tackle fuel prices, Geoghegan said that they’ve been insufficient.
He said: “Three cent here and four cent there is not going to cut the dust.
“The only way we can work is a cap on fuel prices.
“Other countries have put fuel caps on the price.”
Geoghegan said there is “only one cure” for the situation:
“Cap the green diesel at 90 cent, keep people off the dole and keep agri-contractors in business.
“We cannot provide a service with diesel at €1.70 and we’re not going to do it.
“This protest is on in 28 towns at the minute and they’ll have to realise that.
"It was organised in four days. It shows how many people are hurting.”
He added: “The government has a choice – pay a massive dole bill or cap the fuel price.”
