'Walking away from the Irish people': Fuel protester confronts Taoiseach at Cork event

Mr Murphy, wearing a yellow high-vis jacket, waited outside the refurbished Campas Íosagáin as Mr Martin arrived. When the Taoiseach reached the door, Mr Murphy attempted to block his entry.

“What are you going to do about the diesel?” Mr Murphy asked the Taoiseach.

Mr Martin did not engage and moved past him to enter the co-working facility. Mr Murphy then accused the Taoiseach of “walking away from the Irish people”.

A garda detective prevented Mr Murphy from entering the building.

Speaking to media later, Mr Martin said that throughout his life as a politician he routinely engages with people under pressure every day, as do other representatives.

“We always try to alleviate pressures, but blocking people is not the way to do it. Every citizen is entitled to move about freely in our country,” the Taoiseach said.

“What has happened over the last number of days is that that essential freedom to move has been hindered, has been denied, to many, many people.

“We have had countless anecdotes now of other people out there who are under a lot of pressure because they cannot make medical appointments, sick people, (and) people who have been delayed going to work.”

Mr Murphy told the Irish Examiner he had not slept in three days.

“I’m a contractor, a farmer and a truck driver, we’re involved in everything, and all our businesses are on their knees,” he said.

“You can see the amount of lorries [in Macroom] protesting, that have stopped up work.

“Fuel bills are gone crazy, the fuel bills have gone over double now, they’re not bringing them down, they’re not bringing down the customs, they’re not bringing down the fecking carbon tax.

“Eamon Ryan introduced it, can’t this crowd reverse it? Micheál Martin has done absolutely nothing for the people on Irish roads, I’m on about the people now, whatever about the contractors."

He said everyone has a car, uses diesel, and that the cost of kerosene for home heating had not been addressed.

“There’s a population here in Baile Bhuirne of probably 2,000 people, a lot of them elderly people, they can’t afford to heat their homes.” 

Mr Murphy said adding the last thing he wanted to was protest. 

“I don’t want to be here today. I have fields to plough, I have cows to feed," he said.

“We’re at wit’s end, you can hear it in my voice, we are at the point of breaking."