Waiting for tide of public opinion to turn on fuel price protesters is a gamble 

The calls to engage have principally come from Sinn Féin, with Mary Lou McDonald urging the Government to rethink its position

Sources within Government believe the tide of public opinion is turning against the protesters as more people face fuel shortages and the queues get longer in those stations still with supply. Picture: Eamonn Farrell / © RollingNews.ie

Thursday saw long queues of worried members of the public panic-buying as much fuel as they can get from the ever-dwindling number of stations still with a supply in their pumps.

In just a few days, what was a standard protest against the rising cost of fuel has become one of the worst supply crises the country has ever faced.

What sticks in the craw of a percentage of the impacted population is that those behind the protests claim they would lift the blockades if the Government met with them to discuss their demands.

Despite the escalating crisis, however, the Government itself is standing firm in its refusal to meet with the protesters, with coalition sources saying there is no intention of changing tack despite repeated calls for engagement.

“Who do you meet with … it would be a waste of time,” one coalition source said, adding that central protest spokespeople have admitted they do not control other elements outside of Dublin.

On Morning Ireland, John Dallon, who has acted as a spokesperson for the protests in recent days, said he would not be able to speak on behalf of protesters blockading the refinery and key ports.

“I’m here on the streets of Dublin. I have no voice as regards what’s happening down the country, as regards blocking up ports,” Mr Dallon said.

Disjointed organisation

The Government was quick to seize on this disjointed organisation, with Taoiseach Micheál Martin highlighting it as the “difficulty” with the protests.

Sources within Government believe the tide of public opinion is turning against the protesters as more people face fuel shortages and the queues get longer in those stations still with supply.

It is a significant gamble by the Coalition, which could find public opinion turn on it if ministers are not seen to be engaging with the individuals blocking fuel depots and city streets.

The calls to engage have principally come from Sinn Féin, with Mary Lou McDonald on Thursday urging the Government to rethink its position.

“I’m saying to them directly, there is no need for further escalation. There is no need for them to aggravate this situation any further,” Ms McDonald said.

She called for the Government to “pick up the phone” to the protesters and to provide “sufficient measures” to alleviate the cost of fuel.

But this is unlikely to change, with the Government insisting it will only speak to the traditional representative organisations such as the Irish Farmers' Association or the Irish Road Haulage Association.

However, this is not enough for the protesters — who say they want their own seat at the table and insist those organisations don’t represent them.

Spiral into blockade

The refusal by those behind the blockades to allow these bigger bodies to lead on talks may be what caught the Government on the hop and contributed to the protests spiralling into blockades.

The only minister taking a different approach is junior minister Michael Healy-Rae, who has irritated others in Government with his commentary.

While the Kerry TD has criticised the blocking of fuel depots, he has urged the Government to engage with the protesters — a move his detractors have put down to him being a "populist".

Justice minister Jim O’Callaghan has repeatedly denied that the Government has lost control of the situation.

Is such an argument tenable when motorists can't fill up their cars, the National Emergency Co-ordination Group is warning emergency vehicles could run out of fuel and dialysis, and cancer services for the vulnerable are being impacted?

The Government is right on one thing: The impact to Irish society from this home-grown threat has been much more acute than the war in Iran. 

As Micheál Martin put it: "It's extraordinary that we've managed to keep the economy going and keep supplies of fuel going, notwithstanding the unprecedented war in the Middle East. And it's now action taken by people here on our own island that is denying people access to fuel and is undermining supply.”

All eyes will be on what happens over the coming days. The threat of garda enforcement with support from the Defence Forces remains hanging over the heads of protesters.

But it is unlikely people will just move on without any kind of fuss, with protesters in Whitegate saying they will simply change tactics and use their lorries for a slow protest.

Decisive action is needed to bring this situation to an end or else it threatens to escalate even further out of control.