'Nobody has the right to make themselves a self appointed warden', says Tánaiste

He said Government is taking “practical measures” to help people

Tanaiste Simon Harris speaks to the media outside 11 Downing Street, London, after speaking with Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves. Picture date: Monday March 16, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: James Manning/PA Wire

Recent blockades of critical infrastructure by fuel-cost protests “is not who we are”, Tánaiste Simon Harris said.

Speaking to reporters before a meeting, he said the Government is taking “practical measures” to help people with energy costs.

He said suppressing increases in energy costs will have a “wider benefit” due their direct correlation on the cost of living and inflation.

Asked what learnings he had from the last week, Mr Harris said: “I think the fact that – and I was very much aware of this – but the level of pain that people are feeling in this country is real, it is acute.” “And we can have different views than we do in terms of how best to express that and I never think blocking critical infrastructure is a good thing to do.” He added: “But people are really, really under pressure.”

Protesters cannot make their point “to the detriment of someone else’s wellbeing”, Mr Harris said.

Mr Harris said he fundamentally believed in the rights of protest but said he had “significant concerns around the blocking of oil refineries”.

“I always stand by the laws of the land. You can never, in my view, make your point to the detriment of someone else’s wellbeing.

“I think that’s not good. I think that’s not who we are.” He added: “I draw the line between protesting and other activities that – in the words of An Garda Siochana – were illegal, like blocking the mobility of people.

“Nobody in this country has the right to make themselves a self appointed warden. no one in this country has the right to decide whether you or I can move freely.”

It is “important to be humble and be listening in a Government”, he has said after agreeing further measures on fuel costs.

Simon Harris said Government had initially brought a €250m package of supports but further actions were required – resulting in €505m in additional measures.

Speaking to reporters before Cabinet and a Dáil confidence motion in the Government, he said: “Today, though, is about moving on with the job in terms of delivering stable Government that can work on the people’s priorities.” He added: “Look, opposition will do what they do – they have an important job in a democracy.

“But I would just point out that we have brought forward now a package of measures that’s larger than the package of measures that was proposed by the main opposition party (Sinn Féin).”

Every measure taken on energy costs has a benefit in managing inflation, Mr Harris has said.

Asked if the €755m in measures represented the maximum of what Government could do, Mr Harris said the approach had always been to “take this step by step”.

“We always said we would need to come back sector by sector and look at key areas of the economy, including supply chains.

“What I would say to the public at large when they say ‘is there something in this for me?’ “This is actually about everybody, it’s about the country, it’s about keeping the country’s economy secure, it’s about keeping the country functioning, it’s about keeping supply chains working, it’s about keeping food on the shelves in supermarkets.

“Every measure we take that tries to help with energy costs will directly help in managing inflation, and that has a benefit for all of us.” Mr Harris said the measures also brought down the cost of motor fuel.