Major traffic disruption as truckers protest rising fuel costs in Dublin
A convoy of trucks on Merrion Square South in Dublin this morning, as a group called Irish Truckers Haulage Association Against Fuel Prices leads a convoy of vehicles into Dublin City Centre today. Picture: Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie
Truck drivers say they understand commuters' frustrations this morning but say their voices must be heard as they made their way to the centre of Dublin.
The protestors began arriving at Leinster House to voice their concerns about rising fuels prices and the cost this is having on their businesses.
Lorries are currently parked at Merrion Square and on Dawson Street, while Kildare Street has been closed off by Gardaí.
There were disruptions on routes into and around the city earlier this morning, and now in the Kildare Street area, as trucks start to park up near the Dáil.
Gardaí say they have a plan in place but warn there is still disruption the major arteries into the city.
There were slow-moving convoys on the M1, M2, M3, M4, M7 and M11 motorways.
The group, calling itself the Irish Truckers Haulage Association Against Fuel Prices, said it is protesting for "lower fuel costs at the pump and at home".
In a Facebook post, the group said: “We want lower costs and lower taxes, rebates are no good".
They want the government to address the nation on the fuel issue and warned of the possibility of an additional protest in the week before Christmas.
The Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) has dissociated itself from the group which is organising the rolling protest.
In a statement issued to HGVIreland.com, the IRHA said: “The Irish Road Haulage Association would like to make it clear that it has no affiliation or partnership with this group known as Irish Truckers & Haulage Association against fuel prices.”
Independent Limerick TD Richard O’Donoghue drove the cab of a lorry into the car park of Leinster House on Tuesday morning saying it was a protest to highlight the “Government’s failure to act on the fuel prices”.
“We have seen last week that out of every €100 of petrol, our Government takes €57,” Mr O’Donoghue said in a video on social media.
“We want them to give something back, to reduce the VAT or customs and excise so that everyone can pay a little.
“Our children need to get to school on private buses. Our food needs to get to our table from the trucks around this country,” he said.
Mark Sheehan, owner of MS Transport, says his diesel bill has increased by €20,000 per month.
"The problem is, as you know, inflation at the minute. with a driver's wages, diesel and toll bridges," he told Newstalk.
"There's no money in anymore, costs have gone through the roof.
"Trying to keep people in jobs and it just keeps rising and rising and rising and we get nothing out of it."
Several truckers, parked up at service stations before heading to Dublin, say their plan is to show the Government that they "cannot compete with the price of diesel".
One of the protesters says he has no other option as the cost of fuel has become unaffordable.
"We want one of them to come out and talk to us," he said.
"We just want to ask them what can you do for us, because it's not getting any cheaper and it's not getting any cheaper to live outside of Dublin, even the cost of heating our homes now has gone through the roof."
Bus Éireann is advising all passengers to expect delays on all roads into the city today, with routes 100X and 133 being diverted due to the closure of Molesworth Street and Kildare Street.
"Due to today's convoy protest, Route 100X services will terminate at Georges Quay and operate from Custom House Quay.
"Route NX services will terminate on O’Connell Street and operate from Beresford Place.
"All Routes 105X, 103X, 111X and 103 services will terminate on O’Connell Street."
