Taoiseach warns fuel protesters of penalties and rules out direct talks

Taoiseach warns of legal consequences for disruptive protests while insisting Government will only engage with recognised representative groups

Taoiseach Micheál Martin insisted that the Government will not meet any of the fuel protesters and will only engage with nationally constituted groups.

He warned that anyone blocking streets or fuel terminals will be punished and that gardaí will move people on.

“Fuel depots will have to be cleared. There's no justification whatsoever for blockading fuel depots,” Mr Martin said.

“It runs counter to what everybody wants, which is access to fuel on a timely basis. There's always a balance when there is protest. We are in a democracy. We respect people's right to protest. There's always a balance, initially, in terms of how that is policed.

“But what is not acceptable is people declaring that, ‘We will turn O’Connell Street into a car park’. That's not acceptable. There are people with businesses on O'Connell Street who need to survive, who need footfall, who need people to be able to access those businesses. That's not acceptable.

“Anybody who just simply parks a truck in the middle of nowhere, there should be penalties, and there will be penalties in terms of any violations of various laws that apply there.

“In my view, and in the Government view, it's unacceptable that we would have motorways blocked, that we would have main arteries of the country blocked, particularly when Government has engaged in negotiations with the nationally properly constituted representative organisations. We cannot operate on any other basis.”

Junior transport minister Seán Canney said the Government is concerned about the blockage of fuel terminals, adding that people “need to just stand back, reflect on their actions, and just think about the common good here”.

He continued: “What's the purpose of doing this? It’s a ransom.

“People need to understand that what's happening here is not in the in the in the national interest. It's not in the people's interest. We need to just reflect on that.” 

Agriculture minister Martin Heydon condemned the protests and warned that there were animal welfare issues emerging, including an inability to transport feed ingredients to feed mills and merchants.

"Further to the above I have received reports that milk is not being collected from some dairy farmers, denying them a means to make their living," he said.

"Government are managing this issue in real time and are currently spending €4m a day in supporting all sectors of society.

"I and my officials have already met with farm bodies, IBEC and the farm contractors and further to that I have supported the establishment of a new national farm contractors' group.

"I am meeting all agri stakeholders this Friday."

Bord Bia is providing logistical support and helping exporters identify alternative routes to market, with the department of agriculture facilitating certification to enable the rerouting of exports.

Engagement with financial institutions is also ongoing to ensure access to short-term finance and overdraft facilities and appropriate flexibility where cashflow pressures arise.

Tánaiste Simon Harris said there is enough fuel in the country and that while there may be a “small number of particular challenges this morning, that will have to be dealt with by the laws of this land and that should be applied without fear or favour”.

Minister for Rural Transport and Cork TD Jerry Buttimer said people have a democratic right to protests but government is engaging with representative associations and it’s incumbent on all sides to sit down together and talk, he said.

The Government is considering further interventions to help struggling sectors, he said.

But the geopolitical situation is in "such a state of flux" that the Government must consider the ongoing war and the situation internationally before introducing any further supports, he said.

“I don't know that the protest is serving the people that are protesting,” Mr Buttimer said.

“We recognize and understand fully the situation they're in and we have already taken action.” 

However, Mr Buttimer said the blockading fuel depots is “not acceptable”.

“We understand the frustration and the annoyance and the pain that everyone's going through, but to do that is depriving people who require fuel of having that supply of fuel made available to them.

“And that doesn't serve the purpose of what they're [the protesters are] trying to achieve. I fundamentally respect the rights of all people to have a right to protest. But there are certain limits in terms of blocking a fuel depot."