Protesters plan second demonstration over fuel prices and cost of living

Fuel crisis protesters are pushed back by the Garda public order unit at Whitegate village on April 11 this year. The April protests led to significant Government fuel-support measures, but campaigners say the cost pressures remain. File picture: Larry Cummins

Protesters who took to the streets of Dublin over rising fuel prices and the cost of living have vowed to continue their campaign, with another demonstration planned for the end of November.

Around 100 people gathered outside the GPO on Friday before marching to City Hall, amid a heavy Garda presence. The protest was timed to coincide with the visit of around 50 European leaders to Dublin for a series of high-level meetings.

Organiser PJ Cremin said the demonstration was intended to highlight the contrast between the positive picture of Ireland being presented to visiting leaders and the reality facing people struggling with everyday costs.

He said: “When you’re one of the people at the bottom of the ladder, our elderly are faced with choosing between eating their dinner or buying a bag of coal.” 

Mr Cremin said young people are increasingly being forced to consider emigrating to countries including Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States because they cannot afford to live independently in Ireland.

Haulier Anthony Kelleher said the cost of diesel is placing a significant burden on transport operators. He said one truck could burn between 250 and 300 litres of diesel a day, at a cost of approximately €2 per litre.

“That’s €600 a day. Multiply that by five, that’s €3,000 a week. That’s just on diesel,” he said.

Mr Kelleher, who operates two trucks in Cork, said those costs came before tyres, servicing and maintenance. He also warned that further toll increases due in January would add to the pressure on the industry.

While he welcomed the temporary reduction in excise duty, he said the Government should go further in reducing carbon tax.

The demonstration follows the major fuel protests earlier in the year, when convoys of trucks and tractors brought disruption to roads across the country and blockades were mounted at ports and fuel facilities, including the Whitegate refinery in Cork.

The April protests led to significant Government fuel-support measures, but campaigners say the cost pressures remain.