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Irish army asked to move some vehicles in fuel 'blockades'

Adam MandevilleBBC News NI
News imagePA Media A very busy main road. There is a traffic jam on the road going in the direction away from the camera. On the side of the road coming toward the camera, traffic is clear. In the distance there is a sign advertising petrol prices. PA Media
Travel in parts of the country is being affected for the third day in a row

The army is being called in to help remove vehicles blocking roads during fuel protests in the Republic of Ireland, with the Irish police now treating protests at fuel depots as "blockades".

Travel in parts of the country is being affected for the third day in a row, with slow-moving convoys protesting against high fuel prices caused by the US and Israeli war against Iran.

The Irish Minister for Justice, Jim O'Callaghan, said the military will be deployed to ease blockage to "critical infrastructure".

O'Callaghan added that owners of vehicles removed by the Defence Forces "should not complain later about any damage caused... during removal".

A number of motorways and roads across the country have been blocked by protesters.

Gardaí (Irish police) can request the assistance of the Irish army in "aid to the civil power... when required".

In a statement to the media on Thursday, a spokesperson for the gardaí said the force was "moving to an enforcement phase" unless those blocking access to critical infrastructure "desist and disperse".

They said blockades were putting food, fuel, clean water and animal feed supplies at risk.

News imagePA Media On the left, a sign which reads: 'TRAFFIC ALERT - PROTEST CONTINUES - Thurs 9th APRIL - DELAYS / DIVERSIONS - CITY CENTRE'. Behind the sign there is a road which appears to have a traffic jam. PA Media
A number of motorways and roads across the country have been blocked

The Irish Health Service Executive has called for all approaches to medical facilities to be kept clear for users to access treatment.

Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micheál Martin told Irish broadcaster RTÉ that the blocking of roads and infrastructure is "not a fair form of protest".

He said it is "unacceptable" that people would be denied access to fuel and clear water.

"We have main arteries blocked and we have the essentials of the economy being stopped and paralysed."

The taoiseach added that the protests are "damaging our economy significantly" and have gone "far beyond the pale now".

"For people who said they were concerned about the price of fuel, to now be denying people access to fuel is beyond any logical comprehension."

Martin said that the government does not anticipate violence.

"It's not in our nature to be engineering any situation that gives rise to conflict, but we do have to facilitate access to the essentials of life to our people."

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Dublin Bus spokesperson Blake Boland told RTÉ that there is "absolutely massive disruption" again on Thursday.

A spokesperson for the protesters, John Dallon, told BBC Radio Ulster's The Nolan Show that "the people of Ireland are not happy with the government".

He said the Irish government's support package, which was announced in March, is not sufficient.

News imagePA Media A man looks toward the camera. He is wearing a blue and white shirt, and a navy-blue gilet jacket. Behind him, out of focus, are two green tractors in an urban area. PA Media
John Dallon, a spokesperson for the groups protesting about fuel prices

"What they gave the farmers and the contractors was a complete utter insult."

Fuel protesters continue their blockade of the Whitegate Oil Refinery in east Cork.

In a statement, the justice minister said: "The blocking of critical national infrastructure will not be permitted to continue and the assistance of the Defence Forces has been requested.

"Large vehicles blocking critical infrastructure will be removed. Owners of those vehicles should remove them immediately this morning and should not complain later about any damage caused to those vehicles during removal.

"Denying people access to fuel and clean water is an unacceptable interference in the most basic of human rights."

On Wednesday, protesters blocked O'Connell Bridge in Dublin city on both sides, disrupting traffic on the capital's main thoroughfare and along the North and South Quays.

Protests have also taken place at various locations on main roads leading to the city, as well as near other large urban areas.

Dublin Airport advised passengers to allow extra time for their journey on Wednesday while Translink said cross-border services were subject to delays and disruption.

There were also a number of delays and diversions to Dublin Express coach services between Dublin and Belfast.

Customers were advised to allow "significant extra time" for their journeys.

News imageBrian Lawless/PA Wire A man sits inside a large tractor wheel as vehicles are parked on O'Connell Street in Dublin. He's looking at his mobile phone. He's wearing a navy jacket with a red collar, blue jeans and brown boots.Brian Lawless/PA Wire
Fuel price protests in O'Connell Street in Dublin (above) and other locations in Ireland caused disruption on roads
News imageBrian Lawless/PA Wire A cyclist wearing an orange helmet is between two tractors. A sign says, can't afford to move. They're on a street. Brian Lawless/PA Wire
Vehicles parked on O'Connell Street in Dublin on the second day of a protest against rising fuel prices

Why are the protests taking place?

The conflict in the Middle East has caused rapid price rises for both petrol and diesel.

Some 20% of the world's oil trade, the raw ingredient for producing both petrol and diesel, has been halted by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Prices in the Republic of Ireland have surged to about €2.14 (£1.86) a litre for diesel and roughly €1.91 (£1.66) a litre for petrol, with higher prices in some places.

The protests started on Tuesday morning.

An Garda Síochána said although they were peaceful, they were "causing significant disruption".

"An Garda Síochána have received reports of emergency workers being delayed or not being able to travel to their work, of people not being able to attend hospital appointments or visit loved ones who are ill," a spokesperson said.

Protesters said they wanted to meet the Irish government, but senior ministers said they had met national representative bodies and would continue to do so and "keep the situation under review".

The taoiseach, Tánaiste Simon Harris and Minister of State Seán Canney met the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) on Wednesday.

The leaders said discussions were "constructive".

On Friday, Minister Martin Heydon and Minister of State Timmy Dooley will meet national representative bodies of contractors and farming organisations.