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Fuel protests cause 'significant disruption' to travel

Catherine Doyle and Gabija GataveckaiteBBC News NI
Brian Lawless/PA Wire A man sits inside a large tractor wheel as vehicles are parked on O'Connell Street in Dublin. He's looking at his mobile phone. He's wearing a navy jacket with a red collar, blue jeans and brown boots.Brian Lawless/PA Wire
Fuel price protests in O'Connell Street in Dublin (above) and other locations in Ireland are causing a second day of disruption on roads

Cross-border travel has been affected for the second day in a row by fuel protests in the Republic of Ireland.

Slow-moving convoys protesting against high fuel prices caused by the US and Israeli war against Iran were in Dublin and various locations on main roads leading to the city, as well as near other large urban areas.

In Dublin city, protesters blocked O'Connell Bridge on both sides, disrupting traffic on the capital's main thoroughfare and along the North and South Quays.

Dublin Airport advised passengers to allow extra time for their journey while Translink said cross-border services were subject to delays and disruption.

There were also a number of delays and diversions to Dublin Express coach services between Dublin and Belfast.

Customers were advised to allow "significant extra time" for their journeys.

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The protests started on Tuesday morning.

An Garda Síochána said although they were peaceful, they were "causing significant disruption".

"An Garda Síochána have received reports of emergency workers being delayed or not being able to travel to their work, of people not being able to attend hospital appointments or visit loved ones who are ill," a spokesperson said.

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.

Protesters said they wanted to meet with the Irish government, but senior ministers said they had met with national representative bodies and would continue to do so and "keep the situation under review".

Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Simon Harris and Minister of State Seán Canney met with the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) on Wednesday.

The leaders said discussions were "constructive".

On Friday, Minister Martin Heydon and Minister of State Timmy Dooley will meet national representative bodies of contractors and farming organisations.

'Gardaí have to start taking action'

Kevin McPartlan is on an online chat. He's wearing headphones and is sitting in front of a mic. He's in a living room and is wearing a salmon-coloured overshirt. Behind him on the white wall are various works of art.
Fuels for Ireland's Kevin McPartlan says said a significant proportion of the country's emergency strategic fuel supply cannot be accessed due to protests

Fuels for Ireland chief executive Kevin McPartlan has said around half of Ireland's fuel supply is inaccessible due to blockades by protesters, RTÉ is reporting.

Protesters have blocked fuel terminals in Galway, Foynes and the refinery in Whitegate - and McPartlan said a significant proportion of the country's emergency strategic fuel supply cannot be accessed.

He called on the Irish government to act immediately to ensure fuel could safely leave terminals.

Martin described the Whitegate refinery blockade as "an act of national sabotage".

Harris added that any attempt to block the distribution of fuel by protesters was "a sinister and despicable attack on our economy and our society".

McPartlan had earlier expressed disappointment in the Irish government and An Garda Síochána.

"I think now that Gardaí have to start taking action," he said.

Christopher Duffy is standing in a street in Dublin. He's wearing a black long-sleeved polo shirt. People are in the background but are out of focus.
Agricultural contractor Christopher Duffy stayed up in his tractor all night for the protest

Many protesters slept overnight on Tuesday in their tractors, trucks and bus coaches and some didn't sleep at all.

Agricultural contractor Christopher Duffy from County Meath said his feet and back were sore but he was "feeling strong".

He said he did not sleep "a wink" and sat in his tractor.

"Bluntly, in two month's time, I'll be out of business. There is no point putting any gloss on it," he told BBC News NI.

"You can't continue on in business when your costs are going up at this rate.

"The government are blocking up this city and blocking up towns all over this country because they won't make one phone call.

"We have requested a meeting, letters, emails gone in and they haven't even replied.

"One phone call to tell us we have a meeting with government to get the fuel price down, and the city is clear."

Maelisa McGettigan Maelisa is taking a selfie. She has blond hair that is styled in curls. She's wearing a brown top. Maelisa McGettigan
Maelisa McGettigan, of McGettigan's Travel, says "overheads have gone through the roof"

Maelisa McGettigan, of McGettigan's Travel, led a convoy out of Letterkenny in County Donegal on Tuesday.

She described the price of fuel as "absolute madness" and said the protesters wanted the Irish government to cap the cost.

Speaking on Radio Foyle's North West Today, she said: "Our overheads have gone through the roof to a point were we're just wondering how we're going to afford to go back after the Easter break."

Earlier, Martin said the government did "understand the pressures that people are under", but added that it was not acceptable to turn O'Connell Street into a car park, RTÉ is reporting.

He said the protests were preventing "people from accessing livelihoods, medical appointments, [and] disrupting day-to-day activities".

Irish Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan added that while the government respected the right to protest, "that right must be exercised lawfully and must respect the rights of others to earn a livelihood or to move freely".

Meanwhile, the Dublin Fire Brigade appealed to those involved in the protests to ensure emergency vehicles could pass.

A spokesperson said they experienced "significant delays" in their response to emergencies earlier on Wednesday, but the situation had now eased.

What roads have been affected by the convoys?

Brian Lawless/PA Wire A cyclist wearing an orange helmet is between two tractors. A sign says, can't afford to move. They're on a street. Brian Lawless/PA Wire
Vehicles parked on O'Connell Street in Dublin on the second day of a protest against rising fuel prices

Gardaí said the protest activity had significant impact on traffic at locations including:

  • Dublin City Centre
  • M50 North, Dublin
  • M11 Dublin
  • Cork
  • M7 / N18 Limerick
  • N52 Tullamore
  • N6 Athlone
  • M8 Cashel
  • M18 Ennis
  • Sligo
  • M7, Portlaoise
Brian Lawless/PA Wire A long queue of tractors on a street. A poster says no farms, no food.Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Analysis by Gabija Gataveckaite, BBC News NI Dublin Correspondent

Irish government leaders, Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris, as well as independent minister of state Seán Canney, met on Wednesday.

However further cost of living measures were not announced.

Even though the Irish government is saying all measures are being kept under review, ministers are privately hoping to avoid any further costly measures.

The Irish government has already cut excise duty for petrol and diesel, expanded the fuel allowance for social welfare recipients, suspended the NORA levy and put in place targeted supports for hauliers in a package of measures which cost about €250m (£218m).

But protesters say the impact of the measures, announced several weeks ago, has already been lost due to rising prices.

Additional help with the cost of living by the government is expected at Budget time, which will be in October.

However, protesters are insistent they want a meeting with the Government for further supports.

Talks are already ongoing between the Irish Road Haulage Association and the government, with the association not taking part in these protests.