Irish fuel-price protests are set to continue into a third day on Thursday, 9 April, despite the Irish government having already cut diesel excise, reduced the NORA levy and increased the diesel rebate for hauliers. After major disruption in Dublin on Tuesday and Wednesday, protest organisers have now called for further rolling convoys across multiple parts of Ireland, while RTÉ and other Irish media have reported ongoing blockades, severe traffic disruption and pressure on fuel depots.
The Irish government announced its support package on 24 March, saying diesel excise would be cut by 20 cents per litre until the end of May, the NORA levy would be reduced to a nominal level for two months, and the Diesel Rebate Scheme ceiling for qualifying hauliers and bus operators would rise from 7.5 cents to 12 cents per litre until 30 June, backdated to 1 January.
Relief came first, but it did not stop the protests
That package was supposed to ease pressure on operators hit by the latest fuel-price spike. Instead, convoys of tractors, lorries and other vehicles took to the roads on Tuesday, 7 April, causing widespread disruption in Dublin and elsewhere. By Wednesday morning, RTÉ was still warning of delays, with buses, Luas services and city-centre traffic affected, while some vehicles had been left overnight in central Dublin.
The protesters are calling for stronger intervention on fuel costs, including tighter controls on diesel prices and cuts to carbon tax, according to Irish media reports.
Terminal blockades raise the stakes
According to The Journal, protesters blocked access to fuel terminals in Foynes and Galway on Wednesday, prompting Fuels for Ireland to say it was “disappointed” and “frustrated” by the Garda response. Its chief executive, Kevin McPartlan, said access to the sites had been “totally obstructed”.
There is also an important division within the sector. The Irish Road Haulage Association said before the protest that it would not participate, even though it shares the sector’s frustration over fuel prices. Earlier in the week, the IRHA had described current fuel costs as approaching a “national emergency” and called for swift government action, but its official position was to continue engaging with ministers rather than join the convoy action.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said on Wednesday that the fuel protests were “wrong” and warned that “there will be penalties” for anyone who simply parks a truck and blocks roads. While saying people have a right to protest, he said it was not acceptable to turn O’Connell Street into a car park or obstruct fuel depots, and urged protesters to channel their concerns through representative organisations instead.
A third day is now planned
Protest organisers have now announced a third day of nationwide action for Thursday, 9 April, with planned convoy points and feeder routes across Dublin, Leinster, the Midlands, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Wexford, Sligo, Donegal and Clare.
