Garda water cannon arrives in Cork as fuel protests declared 'national exceptional event'

Two water cannons have been scrambled, one of which was dispatched to cover the southern region — including Whitegate Co Cork, Foynes Port in Limerick, and Rosslare Port, Co Wexford

Fuel protests continued at Irving Oil Refinery at Whitegate, Co Cork on Friday as protesters blocked access to the refinery. The Garda Public Order unit was present but a standoff occured as protesters on the road blocked access to fuel trucks, in the heavy rain conditions. Picture: Larry Cummins

Garda commissioner Justin Kelly has declared a "national exceptional event" over the fuel protests and is deploying gardaí to deal with the emergency.

As part of this, the Garda’s two water cannons have been scrambled with one dispatched to the Southern Region to cover events at Whitegate Oil Refinery in East Cork, Foynes Port in Co Limerick, and Rosslare Port in Co Wexford. 

The Irish Examiner understands the water cannon has arrived in Cork city. Its positioning means it can be deployed at short notice.

Garda HQ has declared the current blockades at critical national infrastructure – primarily the fuel depots at Whitegate, Foynes and Galway – to be a “National Exceptional Event”.

As part of this the Garda Working Time Directive can be set aside and the planned rosters changed in order to deal with a national emergency.

In this situation gardaí nationally can be deployed for a period up to 48-72 hours, anywhere in the country.

The second water cannon is remaining in Dublin. In addition to the ports in Cork, Limerick, Galway and Rosslare, other emergency situations include O’Connell Street, the M50, three to four blockades on the N4, one on the M8 and other protests on roads in Athlone and Tullamore.

The situations are listed in other of priority. Whitegate is understood to be close to the top of the list.

It is understood that there is grave concern at the level of fuel supplies in the country.

While Dublin Port has not yet been hit it is understood that much of its fuel supplies go to Dublin Airport.

• Cormac O’Keeffe, Security Correspondent