LIVEDefence forces called in as nationwide blockades continue amid fuel price protests

Traffic from the port at Ringaskiddy, Cork, was stopped and commuters and buses travelling to and from Carrigaline experienced significant delays on Wednesday as the fuel price protest continued on the N28. Picture: Larry Cummins

The Defence Forces have been asked to assist the gardaí to move protestors blocking oil refineries and terminals, the justice minister has confirmed.

Justice minister Jim O’Callaghan has said that the blocking of infrastructure will not be allowed and that people should not “complain” if their vehicles are damaged.

It comes as protesters continue to block roads around Dublin and motorways around the country in opposition to the rising price of fuel.

Fuel terminals have been blocked in Galway and Foynes, while the Whitegate Oil Refinery has also been barricaded.

Mr O’Callaghan confirmed the Defence Forces will now be deployed to move people.

“The Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan has confirmed that it is well established in law that the Defence Forces may assist An Garda Síochána in aid to the civil power, when requested and when required,” a spokesperson said.

“On each occasion that the support of the Defence Forces is required, An Garda Síochána issues a form C70 to the Defence Forces to request their assistance.

“The blocking of critical national infrastructure will not be permitted to continue and the assistance of the Defence Forces has been requested. 

"Large vehicles blocking critical infrastructure will be removed.

“Owners of those vehicles should remove them immediately this morning and should not complain later about any damage caused to those vehicles during removal.

“Denying people access to fuel and clean water is an unacceptable interference in the most basic of human right”.

Today’s protests will be held across Ireland, including in Cork, Dublin, Waterford, Wexford, Sligo, Donegal, Clare, Limerick and Portlaoise..

In Dublin, they include a blockade in place around a key city centre pinch point at College Green.

Protest organisers said the blockade at Cork’s Whitegate refinery is to stay in place, with extra vehicles due to have arrived overnight to help enforce it.

A convoy which gathered at the Shannonpark roundabout has moved to join the blockade of the Port of Cork. A number of areas around Ringaskiddy are understood to be currently blocked while other towns in Cork are due to be affected. These include Midleton, Watergrasshill, Ballincollig, Mallow, Macroom, Clonakilty, Ballyhooly and “surrounding county routes".

Protest plans also include sections of the M8 in Thurles and the M7 at Limerick, which has been closed down in both directions around Junction 28.

Protesters were due to leave in “rolling” convoys to Dublin from locations including the Kinnegad Plaza, the M7 Junction 14 at Monasterevin, the Navan Retail Park, an area of the M1 at Castlebellingham and the south side of the N11 into Dublin from Wicklow.

Other convoys were also due to take part in a “high-visibility rolling protest” over the Shannon crossing.

The main Portumna-Banagher Bridge point - which carries the R356 across the River Shannon between Offaly and Galway - was due to see a “soft-impact, high-visibility traffic movement” from early this morning.

More than 1,456 people have signed a “People of Ireland Fuel Protest” petition for the government to recognise the legitimacy of fuel protest representatives.

Organisers of the Change.org petition, which was published last night said: “We respectfully ask you sign this petition to show support to those protesting for fuel costs.

“The government has said they will only speak to representatives. Help us make those protesting yours.” 

The petition organisers claimed: “Businesses may feel it first but you will feel the costs of living increase very soon. They are standing up for us all to call on the government to help us in this crisis.” 

The petition calls on “the government of Ireland, relevant Ministers, and elected representatives” to recognise People Of Ireland Against Fuel Prices spokesperson Sonny Boyd to be recognized as a representative.

As well as the truck driver, they also want Co Meath farming contractor Christopher Duffy to be recognized as well as a representative.

Earlier this week, Taoiseach Micheál Martin condemned the fuel protests as an "act of national sabotage" and Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien also condemned it.

Minister O’Brien said that as well as listening to and understanding “the real challenges people are facing”, he also said he would “continue to engage with representative groups from affected sectors, such as the IRHA”.

Accused of 'national sabotage' 

Forecourts across the country could start running out of petrol and diesel as early as Thursday as nationwide protests against the cost of fuel enter their third day.

The Government has accused the protestors of holding the country to "ransom" in an "act of national sabotage".

On Wednesday night, Fuels for Ireland claimed forecourts could run out of fuel as early as Thursday because terminals in Cork, Galway, and Limerick are being blocked by protestors.

Its chief executive, Kevin McPartlan, told the Irish Examiner the blocking of the Whitegate oil refinery in Cork, as well as two depots in Galway and Foynes has “locked up” 50% of the country’s fuel.

He said in particular the blockages at the Whitegate refinery could lead to the city’s busier forecourts struggling to meet demand.

As Taoiseach Micheál Martin insisted that the Government will not give in to the protesters' demands, justice minister Jim O’Callaghan told gardaí it is “essential that our ports and fuel depots remain open and fully accessible”.

Mr Martin said the Whitegate blockade was an "act of national sabotage".

"It makes absolutely no sense in the fuel crisis we are currently facing. It is beyond belief that people would seek to deny people around the country access to vital fuels,” Mr Martin said.

Protests are expected to ramp up on Thursday, with groups warning that their demonstrations will target all parts of the country. 

Several slow convoys are expected to hit motorways from 7am.

Junior transport minister Seán Canney said the Government is concerned about the blockage of fuel terminals, adding that people “need to just stand back, reflect on their actions, and just think about the common good here”.

“What's the purpose of doing this? It’s a ransom. People need to understand that what's happening here is not in the national interest. It's not in the people's interest," he said.

The Taoiseach said that the Government will not engage with the protesters and will only speak to “properly constituted representative organisations”.

In a warning shot to protesters, he said they would be fined for blocking roads and fuel depots.

“There’s no justification whatsoever for blockading fuel depots,” Mr Martin said. 

It runs counter to what everybody wants, which is access to fuel on a timely basis. 

"There's always a balance when there is protest. 

"We are in a democracy. We respect people's right to protest. 

"But what is not acceptable is people declaring that, ‘We will turn O’Connell St into a car park’.

“Anybody who just simply parks a truck in the middle of nowhere, there should be penalties, and there will be penalties in terms of any violations of various laws that apply there.”

Mr O’Callaghan met with gardaí on Wednesday, telling them it is “essential that our ports and fuel depots remain open and fully accessible”.

“No one is above the law, and those breaking the law should know that there are consequences for unlawful activity,” he said.

He added that while the Government respects the right to protest, it “must be exercised lawfully and must respect the rights of others to earn a livelihood or to move freely”.

One Government source said gardaí have been told they are permitted to exercise their powers to move people on.

In a statement, a spokesperson for An Garda Síochána said gardaí were continuing to engage with individuals protesting across the country.

The Irish Examiner understands that the gardaí have not yet reached the “enforcement” step of its graduated policing plan and is continuing to “engage”.

Several ministers have told the Irish Examiner that there is enough fuel supply in the country, but Fuels for Ireland's warning will be of concern. 

Protests are expected to ramp up on Thursday, with groups warning that their demonstrations will target all parts of the country. Picture: Larry Cummins 

While the National Oil Reserve Agency has an average of 90 days of fuel in stock, this is the “last resort” and would only be used if all other supplies stop coming into the country. 

It noted that there has been a continuous supply in recent weeks.

Transport and environment minister Darragh O'Brien said that the issue is not a supply one, but rather access.

"Access to fuel is essential for our citizens and businesses, and there is no underlying fuel shortage — this disruption is being caused by a small group of protesters," he said.

Ministers have also discussed the rollout of a €1m advertising campaign from the Department of the Environment. 

This will be rolled out across three phases, with the first advising people how to conserve energy and containing tips such as switching suppliers, potentially rolling out as soon as this weekend.

A second phase will focus on longer-term measures like retrofitting, while a third phase, coming into winter, would advise people what supports are available.

There is also growing concern that people with other nefarious intentions could hijack these protests, as Dublin Fire Brigade reported difficulties moving around Dublin City Centre.