LIVE: Fuel shortages deepen as forecourts run dry; gardaí say protestors blocking depots risk arrest
A man sits in a tractor wheel as vehicles are parked on O'Connell Street in Dublin as protestors take part on the second day of a National Fuel Protest against rising fuel prices. Picture: PA
- Defence Forces called in to remove heavy vehicles blocking fuel depots;
- Gardaí are urging protesters to end 'blockades' of fuel depots or 'face the full rigours of the law';
- The Taoiseach has said fuel price protests have gone 'beyond the pale' and risk damaging the economy;
- Up to 40 forecourts are already without fuel, and that number 'could touch 100 by the end of the day';
- Overnight protests at the Whitegate Irving Oil Refinery in east Cork continue;
- Protesters blockading Macroom bypass, where the Taoiseach is due, vowed to remain for 'as long as it takes'.
Up to 40 forecourts are already without fuel, and that number “could touch 100 by the end of the day,” if the protests continue to blockade fuel depots across the country.
That's according to Vincent Jennings, CEO of the Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association (CSNA), who said the number of forecourts without fuel is “growing by the hour”, with Munster particularly badly hit.
He warned that shortages could last into next week, even if the blockades end soon.
Queues are now being seen at forecourts across the country. A queue of 15 vehicles was reported in Rathkeale, Co Limerick, this morning.
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Health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and chief executive officer of the Health Service Executive Anne O’Connor have jointly called for all approaches to medical facilities to be kept clear during ongoing protests.
Ms MacNeill and Ms O’Connor said access was required for emergency services, for patients attending medical appointments and to ensure staff can get to work.
They said: “Attending hospital or receiving treatment in the community, whether in an emergency situation or for a routine appointment, is a vulnerable time for a patient and their family.
“Please respect the critical need for clear and safe access to all healthcare services, to ensure that access to care is never compromised.”
Protesters blocking fuel depots and other critical infrastructure are breaking the law, and gardaí will begin enforcement if people do not disperse, the Deputy Garda Commissioner has said.
Shawna Coxon, the Deputy Commissioner for Operations, said the protests had evolved into blockades, citing efforts to prevent access to the Whitegate oil refinery and depots in Galway and Foynes.
“It is clear that some people have significantly escalated an already difficult situation by targeting critical infrastructure such as fuel depots and refineries. These are no longer protests. They are blockades,” Ms Coxon said.
“These blockades are putting at risk supplies of food, fuel, clean water and animal feed. These are critical for the nation and its people. This is not tolerable, and it is against the law.”
Protesters blockading the bypass in Macroom, where the Taoiseach is due to this morning, have vowed to remain there for “as long as it takes”.
Ahead of his arrival messages were sent on Whatsapp last night urging that his exit from the town be blocked.
More than 100 people were gathered on the road just after 9am, with more than 60 trucks, tractors, lorries and cars blocking the road from the city side, with traffic diverted through the town.
They heard repeated calls from organisers to remain peaceful throughout the protest, and claims that “Government bots” would try to stir up violence.
An ambulance was let through earlier in the morning, and a garda car was parked at the city side of the bypass.
One organiser instructed the crowd – mostly men wearing orange or yellow hi-vis bibs - that they have to maintain the high ground, adding that “whoever breaks the peace first loses this”.
He claimed that the Government is “ready to fall” and it wouldn’t take much to topple it.
“Lads, I would plead with ye to remain peaceful, we are peaceful people, we are working people and we’re protesting peacefully, and the public is on our side, as long as we remain peaceful we have the upper hand,” he said.
“We are here for the long haul and we will stay here as long as it takes, we have people ready to take our place if any of us have to leave, there is no problem with numbers.”
An overnight protest at the Irving Oil Refinery in east Cork continues this morning, as participants say if they are moved on from the site, "we'll only be back again".
Up to a dozen trucks and tractors have gathered at the facility in Whitegate, having begun the blockade at the refinery gates at 6pm on Wednesday evening as part of the ongoing nationwide fuel protest.
Access to the Port of Cork facilities at Ringaskiddy is currently restricted due to the ongoing national protest, a statement from the port said this morning.
Speaking to the at Whitegate, Cobh-based truck driver Jason Barry said protesters “have to make a stand and have to be seen”.
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Justice minister Jim O’Callaghan said this morning that the Defence Forces have been asked to assist the gardaí to move protestors blocking oil refineries and terminals.
It comes as protesters continue to block roads around Dublin and motorways around the country in opposition to the rising price of fuel.
Mr O’Callaghan said that the blocking of infrastructure will not be allowed and that people should not “complain” if their vehicles are damaged.
A Defence Forces spokesperson confirmed that the army has now been formally requested to help gardaí.
They said: "The Defence Forces can confirm assistance has been requested from An Garda Siochána in the form of heavy vehicle recovery.
"As this operation is ongoing, we will not provide further comment until it is concluded."
A spokesperson for Mr O’Callaghan had said the Defence Forces would 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”.
Foreign affairs and defence minister Helen McEntee said that that the Defence Forces "are always available to consider any requests for assistance from An Garda Siochana.
"Ensuring that critical supplies for our country and its people are able to flow across our country is absolutely essential.
"I remain in close contact with government colleagues and the Chief of Staff."
Government sources said on Thursday morning that the blockading of fuel depots had changed the situation.
The Taoiseach has said fuel price protests have gone “beyond the pale” and risk damaging the economy.
Micheál Martin said it is “unacceptable that people would be denied access to clean water” as he expressed concerns about the impact of people trying to get around Dublin.
Speaking on RTÉ , Mr Martin questioned who the protesters were, as he again said the Government will not engage with these groups.
Fire chiefs have urged fuel protestors in Dublin to make sure they don't block access to the city by emergency services.
The call follows incidents in which blockages delayed the passage of some emergency vehicles.
In an appeal to the fuel protestors in a comment on their Facebook page, fire chiefs said: "Dublin Fire Brigade are appealing to all involved in the fuel protests in Dublin City Centre to ensure the free passage of all emergency vehicles, both on blue lights heading to an emergency and also returning to base to serve their operational area.
“Earlier this morning Dublin Fire Brigade experienced significant delays in their response to emergencies, particularly mobilising from Townsend Street HQ.
“Alternative mobilisation routes are being employed, with the use of empty Luas lines etc.
“The situation has eased somewhat, due to the excellent cooperation with An Garda Siochana, liaising with protesters and clearing routes for our vehicles.
“We continue to work with the other emergency services to ensure operational readiness and emergency access, and we ask all involved to be extra vigilant and compliant when they hear emergency sirens approaching.”
They added: “Do not wait until the emergency vehicles reach the blockades, please allow the other blocked traffic through in advance, so the route is clear for our vehicles to approach.”
Fuel terminals have been blocked in Galway and Foynes, while the Whitegate Oil Refinery has also been barricaded.
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”.
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