Hauliers warn further fuel protests could be on cards as diesel nears €2.20

The president of the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) Ger Hyland has said continued fuel protests could be on the cards as "desperate times makes desperate people". File picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

The president of the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) has said further fuel protests could be on the cards as “desperate times make desperate people”.

Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast on Tuesday morning, Ger Hyland said that without a solution to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which is impacting fuel prices across Ireland, hauliers will continue to suffer.

His comments come ahead of a meeting with Tánaiste Simon Harris later today.

“Diesel is edging closer to €2.20 a litre, never before has it been seen at this level in Ireland,” said Mr Hyland.

“Never before have our members been under so much pressure.

“We just simply can't afford diesel, once diesel goes over the €1.90 per litre mark, it becomes mostly unviable for our industry.

Calls for fuel supports 

“While it is outside government control, our destiny is in our own hands.

“Any supports for fuel are not just a support for the transport community, it's support for the Irish economy.

“Everything that we have in this country, whether we take it off the island or onto the island, it comes on the back of a truck.

“If the transport industry is supported, it feeds into keeping inflation down, so the fuel supports need to remain in place until such a time as there is a workable solution in the Middle East.” 

Mr Hyland said the mood among hauliers remains low as growing fuel prices threaten business viability.

“The fear that's out there, these people have put a lifetime into building their businesses,” said Mr Hyland.

“We're paying 65c for every euro we spend on fuel. There's 65c of that going back to the government in some sort of tax.

“Our members cannot sustain it – they're seeing their businesses evaporating in front of their eyes.” 

‘Desperate times’ 

In terms of protesting, Mr Hyland said the IRHA remains in negotiations with the Government.

“We were there before, we got something that we felt was workable with our members, and that's where we are today and where we'll remain until we see a viable opportunity to get supports for our hauliers,” said Mr Hyland.

“We're never going to get everything we're looking for – we all have to work together to keep the transport community going.” 

However, Mr Hyland said “desperate times make desperate people”.

“I can't tell you whether there's going to be a protest or not, but there are a lot of our members out there who have very little else to lose,” said Mr Hyland.