Fuel protesters in Cork told to keep driving or have tractors seized
Part of the slow-moving Carrigaline-Ringaskiddy convoy on Monday.
Fuel protesters in the Carrigaline-Ringaskiddy convoy were informed that tractors would be seized if they stopped or blocked roads.
Before protests began on Monday, the convoy in Cork was approached by gardaí who informed them that they were under orders to seize any tractors or vehicles that stop or block the Shannonpark roundabout or the N28 (Ringaskiddy road).
Protests have now continued into a seventh day despite the government issuing further excise and announcing a farming, contractor and fisheries support package.
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“I thought I was dreaming, but actually it was a nightmare I had,” Finbarr O’Mahony, a contractor who has been protesting for the last seven days, told the his reaction to the announcements.
As of April 13, white diesel and petrol will be cut by 10c, and green diesel will be cut by 2.4c, with Carbon Tax not being applied now till the end of October. Minister Heydon also announced the Department of Agriculture’s €100m Fuel Subsidy Support Scheme.
Continuing, Mr O’Mahony said: “There isn’t much point in giving the hauliers 10 cents, including Vat and giving us 2.4 cents, including Vat, because the price of diesel has gone up about 25 cents a litre since we started this protest last week. Diesel was up to 170 last week. So what is the point?”
He went on to say that the price of diesel “needs a cap” for a period of time, like the three-month caps applied in other European countries.
Mr O’Mahony went on to say that Micheál Martin and his government should focus on providing for their own country first, “he has to stop and look after the people of Ireland.”
Speaking specifically on the Department of Agriculture’s support scheme, Mr O’Mahony said the reaction he got speaking to fellow protesters around the country was that the government announcements and schemes were “pure insult”.
Mr O’Mahony said the generosity of people bringing food and minerals to the protesters during their blockade of the Ringaskiddy port said that they “could have opened a supermarket” with the sheer amount of provisions that were delivered.
He also highlighted that even during a cost-of-living crisis, he marvelled at the generosity of the public, saying their generosity was “just staggering”.
The blockade was so inundated with provisions that they donated food to homeless charities and still have more to give, with plans to drop off a donation to the Cork Simon Community.
