Talks to take place as fuel price protest enters fourth day
Gardai speak with a tractor driver at the blockade on Friday at Whitegate, Cork. Picture: Larry Cummins
With protests on rising fuel prices continuing into its fourth day, talks are said to be held between the government and representative organisations.
The ‘Can’t Afford to Move’ movement, including agricultural communities and hauliers, has made waves protesting rising fuel prices, which have been pinching day-to-day businesses and people across Ireland, and has bled into a fourth day of protesting.
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Major fuel depots, oil refineries and ports have experienced blockades, including Foynes Port, Co Limerick, Galway Harbour, Whitegate Oil Refinery and the Port of Cork in Cork.
The government announced its intention to meet with representative groups of farmers, agricultural contractors and the haulage industry on Friday as the protests continue.
The Irish Cattle and Sheep Association (ICSA) have not been invited to the meeting between the government and representative organisations.
Although not invited, the organisation has said they remain available to participate in discussions and host “constructive engagement with the government”.
Social protection minister Dara Calleary said the meeting will discuss further measures. Speaking on national radio, enterprise minister Peter Burke has ruled out the introduction of a fuel cap on petrol, diesel or green diesel.
On Tuesday, the IFA put forward proposals to the government regarding the rising costs of fuel following a meeting the week before that resulted in no commitments made by the government.
“Energy and fertiliser costs constitute a massive part of an Irish farmer’s overall cost base, both directly in using fuel and fertiliser to operate farm machinery and grow crops, and indirectly through the use of agricultural contractors, transport and other similar services,” IFA president, Francie Gorman, stated on April 7.
“So far, the Irish Government has reduced farm diesel prices by just 5 cent per litre. This is a wholly inadequate response to an ever-deepening crisis and nowhere near enough to address the huge increase in prices. The Government must do much more and needs to do it immediately.
“At our meeting last week, the Tánaiste ruled out any permanent or even temporary reduction in Carbon Tax. We still want the Government to reconsider this position. However, we have set out a number of alternative proposals to the Government to address the fuel and fertiliser price issue,” Mr Gorman added.
The farming organisation is seeking the introduction of a Temporary Farm Fuels Support Scheme (TFFSS), which would provide farmers and farm contractors with monthly payments to alleviate cost pressures.
The IFA is also seeking the expansion of the farm diesel carbon tax relief to enable agricultural contractors to qualify. The scheme should also be simplified to encourage a more widespread uptake of the relief.
To address the cost of fertiliser, the IFA has reiterated its call to suspend the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) on fertiliser.
They also proposed re-introducing the Fodder Support Scheme with a minimum payment of €150 per hectare to aid farmers in the higher cost of making silage and hay to avoid potential deficits in fodder production.
The group is also looking for a significant top-up to the existing Tillage Sustainability Support Scheme in recognition of the substantial increase in crop production costs as a result of the significant increases in the price of fuel and fertiliser.
Lastly, in the context of any restriction of access to fuel, farm diesel for use on farms and food production and fuels used in the transport and processing of food must be a priority.
In advance of this afternoon's meeting with the government and stakeholders which will be attended by Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS) president Edward Carr and CEO TJ Flanagan, Mr Carr called on all sides to approach the situation with “calm and measured judgement,” allowing space for constructive dialogue and a focus on keeping the country moving.
“We have huge concerns for all sectors of the community during these uncertain times. Co-operatives and their members are massively exposed to increased fuel and energy costs,” said Mr Carr.
“We request the government immediately and substantially increase the flat rate addition for non-VAT registered farmers to compensate for the increased VAT associated with sky-high fuel prices.
“The situation is critical and, in particular, all ports must be freed up. Feed Mills are shutting down due to lack of ingredients, diesel supplies are running out for hauliers and workers.
"The protesters have made their point with a maximum impact but they must also reflect very carefully on any extent to which the current levels of severe disruption could possibly continue,” he concluded.
Dairy Industry Ireland (DII) is urging a measured and immediate de-escalation of the ongoing nationwide fuel protests to prevent any further harmful disruption to the Irish dairy supply chain.
Director of Dairy Industry Ireland, Conor Mulvihill, said: "We fully understand the immense financial pressures facing individuals, transport operators, and businesses as a result of the current energy crisis.
"These are the exact same pressures our own processing workers, businesses and farming families are grappling with daily.
"However, the current protests are inadvertently placing the livelihoods of rural communities, the safety of our workforce, and the welfare of animals at acute risk.
"A breakdown in the essential food and agriculture supply chain serves no one. We urgently request that essential fuel and agricultural infrastructure, milk collections, and feed deliveries be allowed to operate unimpeded.”
