Irish Examiner view: Government has been thrown off by blockades

Solutions will have to be found to ensure the country’s emergency services and critical infrastructure are protected

Fuel crisis protesters being pushed back by the Garda public order unit at Whitegate near Ireland's only oil refinery on Saturday. Picture: Larry Cummins

As the dust settles on a rancorous week across the country, when the Government appeared caught very much on the back foot by the crisis facing it, a raft of questions remains for Micheál Martin’s administration.

Although hamstrung by events out of its control — America and Israel’s war in Iran and Lebanon — the Government was completely thrown by the unexpected and swift blockades mounted against our only oil refinery, our cities, our road infrastructure, and our ports.