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Protestors call for fuel price cap as slow-moving convoys cause delays

Gabija GataveckaiteDublin correspondent, BBC News NI
BBC Truck driver Sonny Boyd is wearing a high-vis vest and a black hoodie. He has short hair and stubble. He is standing near a red truck with an Irish flag. Some people behind him on the street are blurredBBC
Truck driver Sonny Boyd said the protests were all about calling on the Irish government to intervene over 'crazy' fuel prices.

Drivers have been warned to give themselves extra time for journeys as protests are held across roads in the Republic of Ireland against the rising cost of fuel.

Gardaí (Irish police) said they were aware of a number of slow-moving convoys at various locations on main roads leading to Dublin and near other large urban areas.

Truck driver Sonny Boyd said they were in response to the "crazy" cost of fuel.

"We need it capped," he said. "We need carbon tax to be gone. We just need the government to step in and help us because we can't do this any longer."

The conflict in the Middle East has caused rapid price rises for both petrol and diesel.

Some 20% of the world's oil trade, the raw ingredient for producing both petrol and diesel, has been halted by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Prices in the Republic of Ireland have surged to about €2.14 (£1.86) a litre for diesel and roughly €1.91 (£1.66) a litre for petrol, with higher prices in some places.

Tánaiste (Irish Deputy Prime Minister) Simon Harris is planning to hold a meeting on Wednesday dedicated to the issue of energy.

PA Media A lorry and a tractor are parked in the middle of O'Connell Street in Dublin. A sign on the front of the tractor says: "No farms, no food". The tractor is lime green in colour while the lorry is white with green detailing.PA Media
Vehicles taking part in the protest were parked or moving slowly on O'Connell Street in Dublin on Tuesday

Earlier on Tuesday, Dublin Airport advised passengers to be prepared for disruption while travelling to the airport.

A Translink spokesperson said the protests were causing some disruption to their coach services to Dublin and Dublin Airport from Northern Ireland.

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'Protests must be taken seriously'

Eamon Curley, a beef farmer from County Meath and chairperson of the Beef Plan Movement, warned that the price of food will "jump up" if the Irish government doesn't take action.

"The farmers drive tractors, the builders drive diggers. Green diesel is our blood . and what they're doing at the moment with these high taxes, they're kneeling on our throats," he said.

Two men are standing side by side looking into the camera. John Dallon is on the left. He has balding dark grey hair and is dressed in a stripe shirt with a navy fleece gilet on top. Eamon Curley has white hair and is dressed in a navy shirt with a green fleece on top. It has a stitched emblem on the chest with the words 'EMERALD ISLE BEEF PRODUCTS' below. The background is out of focus, but there is a large group of people gathered for the protest beside a green tractor.
John Dallon and Eamon Curley are calling for the cost of diesel to be capped

John Dallon, a farmer and agriculture contractor from County Kildare, said the government should take the protests "seriously".

"Were calling on the government here to save our economy," Dallon said.

"Do they realise how many businesses in Ireland are in dire straits? And it's all because of the inflation of diesel. We are looking for the diesel to be capped."

What roads have been affected by the convoys?

Roads the convoys have been reported on include:

  • M6 Junction 7 (Moate), County Westmeath
  • M8 Junction 4 (Urlingford), County Offaly
  • N52, Tullamore, County Offaly
  • The vicinity of Portlaoise, County Laois
  • M6 Junction 18 (Athenry), County Galway
  • Eastbound on the M3 approaching J8 (Navan)
  • Eastbound on the M4 at Junction 8 (Kilcock), County Kildare
  • Eastbound on the M7 approaching Junction 13 (Kildare Village), County Kildare
  • M7 near Limerick city