Critical care under threat on day four of fuel price protests

Emergency vehicles are running out of fuel, while critical care and medicines for patients are under threat, as the nationwide fuel protests enter day four.

There was no sign on Thursday night of the blockades of the Whitegate oil refinery in Cork or depots in Limerick and Galway being lifted, despite justice minister Jim O’Callaghan saying he had discussed “measures in place to address disruption” with gardaí and the Defence Forces.

Up to 200 forecourts will be dry of petrol and diesel on Friday if fuel trucks aren't able to access those depots.

On Thursday, thousands of people flocked to stations that still had fuel to panic buy ahead of the weekend. As long lines of cars formed outside their forecourts, many stations restricted the amount customers could buy to €50. 

Mr O’Callaghan appealed to protesters to lift their blockades and warned that the Defence Forces “remain on standby” to move demonstrations blocking critical infrastructure. However, he would not reveal when the Defence Forces might be deployed.

As long lines of cars formed outside their forecourts, many stations restricted the amount customers could buy to €50.

Concerns are now growing in the Government about the availability of medicines, animal feed, and food supplies.

Despite this, the Coalition remains steadfast in its decision not to engage with the protesters and that it will only speak to nationally constituted representative groups.

“This is a clear choice between democracy or anarchy,” agriculture minister Martin Heydon said.

Government officials were briefed on Thursday afternoon about the ongoing impact of the fuel blockade across the country. While there are robust fuel supplies in the country, the current situation is “solely a distribution issue that can be alleviated by ending blockades and restoring access for delivery vehicles”.

The National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) warned there is now “serious concern” about fuel supplies for ambulances and other emergency services due to the blockades, "and this may have consequent impacts on the availability of some services should the disruption continue”.

“A NECG sub-group has been established to fous on the specific impacts on the emergency services fleet and to consider possible contingencies.”

Up to 200 forecourts will be dry of petrol and diesel on Friday if fuel trucks aren't able to access those depots.

The HSE told the meeting the delivery of key medicines and medical devices could be disrupted.

It also spoke of the impact on people seeking to attend medical appointments, adding that there are impacts on home care and other critical care services such as dialysis and cancer care.

Cork 'badly hit'

Kevin McPartlan, the CEO of Fuels for Ireland, warned that 200 garages will have no diesel and petrol on Friday if the protests in Cork, Galway, and Limerick do not end rapidly.

Some 100 forecourts were already dry on Thursday evening, with the shortage most acutely impacting Munster and the west coast, he said.

Cork was “particularly badly hit”, Mr McPartlan added.

Mr O’Callaghan confirmed on Thursday morning that gardaí had requested the assistance of the Defence Forces to prevent the blocking of critical national infrastructure.

“Large vehicles blocking critical infrastructure will be removed,” he said.

 Mr O’Callaghan said the protesters had “made their point” and need to “cop on”.

The Coalition remains steadfast in its decision not to engage with the protesters and that it will only speak to nationally constituted representative groups.

He warned that “there will be legal consequences”, but that they “might not arise today or tomorrow”.

“But people have licences to drive vehicles. Those licences will be affected,” he said.

“In terms of any insurance coverage, I suspect, will be void as a result of the owner of the equipment deciding to voluntarily get involved in such illegal activity.”

He expressed concerns that protesters need to “wake up and realise they are being manipulated” by malign forces outside of Ireland, as he criticised English far-right influencer Tommy Robinson for “referring to and relying upon these protests to advance his own political measures”.

“I would ask people involved in the protests to cease their protests,” Mr O’Callaghan said.

“They've made their point. Government has heard the point that they've made, but it's now clearly the case that considerable damage has been inflicted to Irish people and to the Irish economy, and I'd ask them to stop their protests.”