Irish cabinet meeting to be held to discuss ongoing fuel protests
The Irish Prime Minister, Micheál Martin, has confirmed a cabinet session will take place on Sunday, during which updates on the current fuel crisis discussions will be provided. For the past five days, widespread protests and road blockades have disrupted fuel supply chains, with hundreds of petrol stations in the Republic of Ireland facing shortages. These blockades, led by slow-moving convoys of vehicles including tractors, have continued to escalate tensions.
Government officials have been in continuous talks with representatives from farming and haulage sectors since Friday to finalize a new financial support plan. On Saturday, a key development occurred when fuel trucks successfully re-entered an oil refinery in County Cork, which had been blocked for several days. The operation, backed by the Irish Defence Forces, saw protesters at the Whitegate Refinery pushed back by gardaí using pepper spray.
“We gave these blockaders fair warning that we were moving to an enforcement phase and they chose to ignore that and continue to hold the country to ransom,” said Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly. He emphasized that blockades are illegal and “not a legitimate form of protest.” Kelly also noted that gardaí are aware of instances where fuel tanker drivers have been intimidated, adding that threats to kill or cause serious harm can result in up to 10 years in prison.
Meanwhile, a road blockade near Rosslare Europort has raised concerns about ferry operations. The harbour master warned Irish broadcaster RTÉ that ferries might be delayed or canceled by Sunday afternoon, as freight vessels remain stalled. Protesters have established a blockade approximately one mile from the port in the village of Kilrane. Iarnród Éireann, the national rail operator, stated that the situation could reach a critical point late Sunday or early Monday, with significant disruptions affecting Dublin’s public transport network.
Public transport services have already faced major delays, including the suspension of some routes. Bus Éireann has advised travelers to Dublin Airport to plan for additional time, while efforts are being made to accommodate airport passengers where feasible. An Garda Síochána has declared an “exceptional event” to address the fuel protests, enabling them to deploy twice the usual number of officers.
The National Emergency Coordination Group highlighted that emergency services, such as ambulances and fire crews, are experiencing mounting pressure due to the ongoing fuel shortages. Taoiseach Micheál Martin warned that the blockades risked the country being unable to receive essential oil supplies amid a global crisis. He called for swift action to prevent further disruptions.
Political leaders have also weighed in. Mary Lou McDonald, leader of Sinn Féin, criticized the government for allowing the situation to worsen and called for dialogue with protesters to resolve the standoffs. The protests, which began on Tuesday, are linked to the Middle East conflict, which has interrupted 20% of the world’s oil trade by closing the Strait of Hormuz. This has driven up diesel prices in Ireland from €1.70 to €2.17 per litre, with petrol also rising by 25 cents per litre in many locations.
