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Ireland: haulier protests over high fuel costs hit key motorways

Hauliers angry over the high cost of fuel in Ireland are today taking part in protests across the country. This morning, road traffic police confirmed that a slow moving convoy of trucks was causing significant traffic delays near Dublin Airport.

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As reported by the Irish Examiner, the organisers of the protests say they want the government to take action on fuel costs. In the event this does not happen, they warn that even larger protests will happen before Christmas. Some hauliers say they might even go out of business if fuel costs aren’t curtailed.

Irish road transport website Fleet.ie reported yesterday that the protesters planned to run slow convoys of trucks from the following locations early this morning:

  • M1 Services Lusk North & South
  • M2 Ashbourne Retail Park
  • M3 Park Car Park, M3 Maxol & Damonstown Way
  • M4 Kinnegad Plaza Services
  • M7 Toughers Industrial Estate Naas
  • M11 Applegreen Services Wicklow Exit 14

Footage posted this morning on Twitter also shows a convoy in action on the M1 towards Dublin.

The protests follow a decision by an Irish politician to arrive at the country’s parliament building in a HGV yesterday. Independent TD Richard Richard O’Donoghue told RTE News that he wanted to send a clear message to the government that every TD in Ireland voted for a 2% rise in fuel prices – except Independents.

The group organising today’s protests, ‘Irish Truckers & Haulage Association Against Fuel Prices’, currently has around 12,000 followers on Facebook. Earlier today, the group posted:

“Well done to the lads doing rolling protests on the m50/m1 too fair play! And to all lads on route keep up the fight! We’re all in this together! Share the videos and pics far and wide.”

The group also called on trucks, vans and tractors to get as close as possible to a blockade set up in Dublin city centre that is intended to minimise disruption from the protest.


Photo: © Copyright Rossographer and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

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