Day of disruption
A day of disruption is expected in the capital and other places across the country as a national fuel protest unfolds.
Protesters were expected to assemble from 7am at various motorway services across the country before taking off towards Dublin. Many major commuter routes to the capital are expected to be affected, including the M50, the M1 and other roads.
Rolling protests will also begin outside Cork, Limerick and Galway.
Garda updates
Gardaí said on Monday evening they were aware of the planned protests and said they could produce significant additional traffic in places from 8am. Here’s the full statement:
“An Garda Síochána is aware of proposals for vehicle gatherings, and associated public activity, at various locations around the country from early tomorrow morning Tuesday, 7th April 2026.
“An Garda Síochána understands it is proposed that convoys of vehicles (including HGVs, agricultural and plant vehicles) will gather at various locations across the country. It is understood that the proposed convoys, potentially slow moving, will travel primarily along national primary routes.
“It is proposed that some of these convoys will remain in regional locations, and some will travel to Dublin to congregate in the Dublin region.
“If the convoys materialise and congregate, it is expected that there will be significant additional traffic, including slow-moving vehicles, on the main arteries leading to Dublin and in the vicinity of large urban areas across the country from 0800hrs.
“An Garda Síochána has had limited interaction with some persons involved in publishing information about these convoys. As the majority of the organisation of these convoys is taking place on social media platforms and messaging apps, An Garda Síochána is not in a position to provide accurate or detailed advice to the general public at this time.
“Members of the public travelling on National Primary Routes ... 7th April 2026 are advised to plan their journeys by ensuring they leave additional time for possible traffic disruptions and to expect traffic delays, if congestion is caused as a result of these convoys.
“An Garda Síochána will provide updates, where possible by the Garda Press Office, if appropriate and required, via:
• Press releases
• Garda social media channels
“An Garda Síochána respects the right of citizens to exercise their constitutional rights, subject to statutory provisions.
“While An Garda Síochána facilitates peaceful protest, An Garda Síochána must also balance and protect the rights of individuals to travel freely and commercial organisations to conduct business.
“Any Garda activity in relation to evolving events involves a graduated policing response taking into account relevant legislation and public safety.”
Some reports of congestion already on approaches to Dublin, although that is not a rarity on an ordinary day. Should large convoys develop, we wouldn’t expect to see their main impact for a little while yet.
Fuel issues around the world
World news is full of stories about fuel prices this morning as the Iran war continues, with oil and gas infrastructure in the Gulf under threat and shipments through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz halted.
About 18 per cent of French petrol stations were lacking some kind of fuel on Tuesday morning, junior energy minister Maud Bregeon said, after one brand set prices lower than elsewhere, leading to supply issues.
Two tankers full of Qatari liquefied natural gas tried to exit the Gulf on Monday only to U-turn within hours after being denied clearance by Iranian officials, Bloomberg reported.
There were also reports of Taiwan switching back to coal, Pakistanis seeking electric motorbikes, high inflation in the Philippines, and an Indian plan to buy more Venezuelan crude.
Ireland is not alone in dealing with rising prices.
‘Not involved’
A number of representative groups have said they themselves are not involved in organising the protests.
The president of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, Denis Drennan, said the association would not be participating in any kind of official basis, but he had “no doubt” individual farmer members would be taking part or supporting the protest.
“This is not a matter of choice for farmers and between the surge in fuel, energy and fertiliser, we are fast coming up on the point where just getting up in the morning to work and produce food will be prohibitively expensive and farmers will just have to stop,” he said.
The Irish Road Haulage Association said it was “not involved” in the protests, but added: “We understand that each member needs to do what they feel is right for their business.”
The Coach Tourism and Transport Council said the sector was facing serious cost pressures but that its focus was on engagement with Government. It asked protesters to keep bus lanes clear.
‘How do I remain in business today?’
More from affected sectors on this morning’s radio shows. Vivienne Clarke reports: Ger Hyland, the president of the Irish Road Haulage Association has said he does not know who is organising today’s fuel price protests. Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast with Anton Savage, Hyland declined to say whether he supported the protests.
“We empathise with them, we can see where they’re coming from,” he said. “Our position on this is that we are still at the table with Government. We had a meeting with Government last Friday, we’re meeting with them again this week.”
As an association the IRHA was not involved with the protest, he said, but it was up to every member to make their own decision. “We have members who are probably involved in this today.
“They’re involved in it because they can’t afford to fuel their trucks. It’s up to every individual haulier himself to do as he sees fit for his company”
Later on the same programme, Kevin McPartland, chief executive of Fuels for Ireland, said the crux of the issue was excise duty. The exchequer was “not as far behind as they’re letting on. They’ve let everybody off 20 cents a litre, but actually they’re collecting 16 of that back in VAT. So I have a lot of sympathy with the protesters today.
“We need an expert group to have a comprehensive review of all of the taxation and compliance costs of fuel.
“If I was a haulier, if I was an agricultural contractor, I would be saying: ‘yeah, but how do I remain in business today?’ I do think we need targeted responses for those particular sectors.”
Vehicles gather
Images and video shared on social media show vehicles gathering at various locations around the country in preparation for this morning’s protests, Climate and Science Correspondent Caroline O’Doherty reports.
Tractors and trucks are shown gathering outside Portlaoise, Co Westmeath; Monasterevin, Co Kildare; and Rathcoole and Lusk, Co Dublin, with the intention of travelling in convoy on the M7 and M1.
Other images show a convoy on the M6 from Galway and a gathering at Castlebar, Co Mayo. The size of the gatherings is not currently verifiable.
Convoys move off
Per Caroline O’Doherty: Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the national motorways agency, is reporting “slow-moving convoys” on the M8 near Urlingford, Co Kilkenny; on the M3 at the approach to Navan, Co Meath; and on several locations on the M7 including Limerick city and the approach to Junction 13 at Kildare Village.
Worst fuel crisis
Further to the global context point: The current oil and gas crisis triggered by the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is “more serious than the ones in 1973, 1979 and 2002 together”, Fatih Birol, the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA), told Le Figaro newspaper.
More on that, and the war in Iran in general, in our other live story.
Drop in footfall, drop in goodwill
The chief executive of the business organisation Dublin Town has warned that today’s fuel price protests will cost goodwill, Vivienne Clarke reports.
Richard Guiney told Newstalk’s Claire Byrne show that while he had sympathy for everybody in the current circumstances, businesses were also facing large energy price increases.
The experience from previous similar protests was that the city continued to function, but that the protesters lost the goodwill of people who could have been their allies.
“I’m not sure that they’re going to get what they want out of this kind of protest. And, you know, in terms of the general public, a lot of people will just work from home during the protests.”
Guiney anticipated there would be a decrease in footfall in the city centre today “probably in the region of about ten per cent. That’s what the experience was before.
“But, you know, those businesses, particularly in the retail side of the house, are already, with all the other options that are out there, online shopping, etc, are feeling a fair amount of stress.
“Obviously, we all need a strong economy, that’s what we need to work together towards.”
Convoys have moved off from around the Midlands and East of the country, Sarah Slater reports.
At Junction 8 Cashel north and south, long lines of trucks, minibuses and cars groups gathered from before 8am to make their way to Dublin’s M50.
The Portlaoise fuel protest involving trucks, tractors and vans continues to travel from J17 in a slow-moving convoy back to the same junction.
On the N81 a protest convoy is currently travelling though Brittas.
In Athlone protesters are involved in a slow drive from Moate to the town with hauliers, farmers, bus companies, taxis and the general public.
As of yet there are no delays on the M4 which is the primary route from Sligo to Dublin connecting from the M50 at Junction 5 north-westwards.
‘It’s scary, the immense pressure we’re under’
Sonny Boyd, who runs a tow truck business in Co Kildare, and is part of the convoy on the M4, said he could see more than 100 lorries and tractors in his rear view mirror, with more ahead of him and a gathering waiting at Maynooth to join in. Caroline O’Doherty reports.
He said the protest was necessary because businesses reliant on fuel were on their knees.
“We don’t want to do this but we need to highlight what’s happening. It’s scary, the immense pressure we are under,” he said.
“I looked in my bank account this morning and there’s €109 in it.
“I spoke to one lad this morning who only set up in business a few years ago and is owed €25,000 in invoices that he can’t get paid.
“I know of schoolbus operators who have told parents they’ll need to pay €50 a week extra or they can’t run the service.
“I know of services that have told parents already they’re going to stop.”
Boyd said the Government should cap fuel prices at €1.70 and scrap the carbon tax.
He said there was surprise and disappointment that the Government did not reach out with an offer to prevent the protests and there was a mood among many to repeat the action weekly until they did.
The Government will do “as much as it can for as long as it can” to respond to rising fuel prices, the Minister for Higher Education James Lawless has said. Vivienne Clarke writes.
“We’ve cut the price of diesel and petrol at the pumps,” he said. “We’ve extended the winter heating scheme into another four weeks. So we’re doing as much as we can for as long as we can, but one of the things about this war, this situation, is it’s moving so rapidly and it is quite a volatile situation. So the war could ramp up or the war could ramp down.
“As Government we have to do something that’s sustainable, that’s costed, that’s repeatable, and the taxpayer ultimately can stand over. So we’re taking it one step at a time. We are engaging with industry, trying to manage people’s expenses, because we know it’s hard, and pump heating in particular is a strain.
“We’ll revisit again at the end of the four weeks. But look, I think at the moment it’s one week at a time, and that’s very much the way the war has been playing out as well. It could be all over, or it could be into another escalation.
The Government was looking at short-term measures and long-term measures, he said. “I think with the long term, we need to look at our energy mix, we just need to really drive it home. The longer that we’re importing fossil fuels from outside the EU, the longer we will continue to be dependent on oil stocks or gas stocks or these kind of surprises in the markets and these kinds of exposures.
“We need to become more sustainable in terms of energy independence, renewables, other fuels, other sources beyond fossil fuels, and have a wider energy mix.”
Research was ongoing for “the optimal energy mix” including hydrogen, nuclear, hydro, he said.
Independent TD Mattie McGrath who was out with protesters in Cashel this morning said in an online statement that “crushing fuel costs are pushing families, motorists, bus operators, hauliers, farmers and small businesses past breaking point”. Sarah Slater reports.
The Tipperary based deputy added that he met “angry and exhausted people who feel abandoned and ignored.
“Immediate, decisive action is needed to cut prices and end the relentless pressure being placed on hard‑working citizens.”
Meanwhile, gardaí in Kilkenny are reporting that there are minor delays on the ring road leading into the city while in Waterford city there is a convoy of trucks moving slowly along the quays. There are queues at various points approaching Dublin.
Amid all this, the Dáil is, of course, in recess, though the business of Government itself continues. Sinn Féin hopeful for Galway West Mark Lohan wants deputies back in the chamber to address the fuel crisis.
“Farmers, businesses, hauliers are all telling us clearly that they are under serious pressure,” he said in a statement. “These are the people who are keeping our economy going, we need to listen to them and we need to have their backs. This is an emergency that effects everyone and could undermine the economy if we don’t take steps to tackle it.”
He added: “It will have been 20 days since the Dáil last met if the full recess is taken, people can’t wait weeks for the Dáil to meet. The Dáil must sit and back Sinn Féin’s proposals for a maximum reduction in diesel, the same reduction for petrol, and, crucially, remove excise duty entirely from home heating oil and an extension of fuel allowance by 13 weeks.”
The Government position, as we saw earlier from James Lawless, is that any action needs to be sustainable and costed, presenting value for the taxpayer. The Government in general has attempted to move away from so-called “one-off” cost-of-living giveaways as a matter of policy, although with existing measures on fuel, that position is already shaky.
Building slowdown
One of the organisers of today’s fuel protests said house building was already stalling and work lay-offs were beginning because of the price rises, Caroline O’Doherty reports.
James Geoghegan, an agricultural contractor from Co Westmeath, said the knock-on effects would begin to become painfully clear very quickly.
“Builders are telling me the cost of a new house has gone up €30,000 in three weeks,” he said.
“Everything is affected. Concrete producers wrote out to builders saying as of April 1st, the price was up 15 per cent.
“I know of several houses due to start that have been cancelled and if foundations aren’t dug, there’ll be no concrete supplier required, no blocklayers, no electricians. Building is collapsing.”
Geoghegan said his own business would be in danger if the prices were not brought down.
“I have new machines ordered that I’ve had to put a hold on. I can’t fund machinery payments and fuel payments.
“A friend who is a contractor in Cork was sowing last week and used 15,000 litres of diesel at 70c extra a litre. That was €10,000 on his fuel bill. That’s not sustainable.”
Geoghegan said the main demand from those involved in the protests was for the Government to cap the price of fuel.
“We’re not looking for handouts. We’re looking for some sense. If the Government doesn’t cap the prices and save the economy, it’ll cost them more in dole payments because this is going to be worse than 2008.”
The convoys arrive
The various convoys have begun to arrive in Dublin. Cian O’Connell is on the scene at O’Connell Street.
A small number of tractors have parked up outside the GPO, where speeches by fuel protest organisers are set to take place this afternoon, he reports. Several dozen protesters have gathered there on foot.
At the top of O’Connell St, gardaí are redirecting regular, southbound traffic away from the river Liffey, though some trucks and larger vehicles are being allowed to pass through.
For those who want to know exactly what’s going on at the GPO, there is a webcam operated by Carrolls Irish Gifts pointed directly at it.
Trucks, tractors and heavy goods vehicles have now blocked off the top half of O’Connell St, with close to a hundred vehicles in total parked along the street, Cian O’Connell says. Gardaí continue to redirect buses towards Parnell St, allowing protesters to pass through.
‘Petrol only for the priest, doctor and midwife’
Readers weigh in on the growing fuel crisis: worst ever? Not as bad as the Yom Kippur war? And who gets priority if pumps do start drying up? Read their contributions here.
A small crowd gathered outside the GPO on O’Connell Street this morning as part of a protest over surging fuel prices, writes Cian O’Connell.
Trucks, tractors and large vehicles outnumbered those on foot, with the near constant noise of beeping horns offering evidence of the group’s discontent. Speeches from organisers and politicians will take place this afternoon.
Christopher Duffy, who travelled from Navan, Co Meath, said his agricultural contracting business has seen its fuel bill jump by 50 per cent over the last month. It has come to the point where he does not see a future in it.
“We need agricultural diesel capped at €1 a litre, and white diesel can’t go over €1.70,” he said. “Our Government can do that this week. They can take the duty off; other countries have done it.”
Speaking to reporter Cian O’Connell on O’Connell Street, agricultural contractor Brian Brady said it used to cost him €300 to fill his diesel tractor each day and he is now spending €600. Brady travelled with his colleague, Aidan Ennis from Cavan to attend the protest.
Brady wants to see reductions on fuel taxes, including removing the carbon tax, which is now levied at €71 per tonne of carbon dioxide emitted.
Brady heard about the protest through social media, catching word of it on Facebook. “There’s no real organisation behind it,” he said.
“It’d be nice if [the Government] showed a bit of respect for everybody that came up for the day, but time will tell,” Brady added.
‘It’s a matter of time before people are struggling and hungry’
Among the crowd gathered outside the GPO on Dublin’s O’Connell Street is Martin Shields, who believes it is “only a matter of time before grocery bills go up”, Cian O’Connell reports.
Shields works with Collins Coaches in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan. He and his colleagues are on duty today, but joined the protest for their morning break.
“We’re just observing and supporting,” he says.
“Our fuel prices have gone up 20 per cent – something like that. We’re not close to bankruptcy or anything but it’s cut down margins. A lot of our drivers commute and our [personal] fuel bills have gone up 20 per cent as well.
“It’s a matter of time before grocery bills go up. It’s a matter of time before people are struggling and hungry, I would think.”
Shields wants to see carbon tax and VAT on petrol and diesel slashed. It is a “very pressing matter”, he says, though he thinks the protest should have waited until the Dáil was back in session so that it could disrupt movement around Leinster House.
Traffic disruption continues in regional towns
Traffic disruption is continuing in regional towns, on motorways and in Dublin city as a result of the protests over fuel prices, Climate and Science Correspondent Caroline O’Doherty reports.
Protests have been taking place in around two dozen towns with Midleton, Tullamore, Cashel, Castlebar, Tralee and Rosslare among those most heavily attended.
On motorway feeder roads and on motorway routes, traffic has been crawling at times, with the M7 particularly badly affected at Limerick and again on the approach to Dublin.
A spokesman for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) which operates the motorway network said: “We are working with gardaí to contain the disruption but there has been significant disruption and we anticipate it will continue into the evening rush hour.”
Dublin Bus has said diversions are in place on several routes until further notice due to disruptions on O’Connell Street, Eden Quay and Custom House Quay.
Kildare Street, which closed to traffic earlier on Tuesday, has been reopened to services, Dublin Bus said.
‘Significant’ traffic delays continue in Dublin and on M50
“Significant traffic delays” remain on O’Connell Street and sections of the M50 due to slow-moving convoys, according to An Garda Síochána.
A crowd of several hundred has now formed on O’Connell Street with speeches on the fuel protest set to begin, Cian O’Connell reports.
Members of Sinn Féin, Aontú and Independent Ireland are among those addressing protesters from outside the GPO, where the side wall of a large truck has been removed so that the vehicle can act as a podium.
“This protest was organised in a hurry,” says James Geoghegan, an agricultural contractor from Westmeath and one of the chief organisers of the protest. He adds that TikTok was instrumental in spreading word of the event.
Geoghegan thanked An Garda Síochána for facilitating the protest and shutting down O’Connell Street.
“We were expecting maybe 200 vehicles,” Geoghegan says, but estimates the actual number around the county is close to a thousand.
Speaking at the protest on O’Connell Street, Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín said “the Government need to scrap the carbon tax straight away,” Cian O’Connell reports.
Tóibín said the war in Iran has “for sure” created problems around the price of fuel, but claimed the Government is “tax gouging” people unnecessarily.
“I have never seen a protest to take off so fast around the country,” he said, describing protesters as “the cogs in the economy”.
“These are just ordinary citizens trying to make a living.”
Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins said people are being “totally neglected by the State” with regard to fuel costs.
“You’re taxed on the fuel. You’re taxed on the tyres. You’re taxed on the motor tax ... This is a greedy, grabbing Government and on top of that, they screw you over with carbon tax,” he said.
Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy called on the Government to abandon plans to increase the carbon tax next month, Cian O’Connell reports from the GPO.
“The second thing that needs to happen is that the measures brought forward by Sinn Féin and other Opposition parties to reduce the costs of fuel should be put in place - not next week, certainly not next month, but today,” Carthy said.
Carthy and his party colleagues, TD Natasha Newsome Drennan and Senator Maria McCormack, received the odd jeer from the crowd as they spoke, pointing to the unlikely political alliance brought about by the fuel protest.
‘We’re here for the long haul’
Speeches have now concluded at the rally on O’Connell Street with agricultural contractor James Geoghegan, one of the chief organisers of the protest, telling attendees: “We’re here for the long haul.”
“I won’t say safe home, because you’re not going home,” he said.
Opposition parties have varying views on the protests, Political Editor Pat Leahy writes.
Sinn Féin said it is supporting them with TD Matt Carthy addressing the protest in Dublin on Tuesday, while Independent Ireland TDs are strongly supporting the protesters.
The Social Democrats stopped short of expressing support but issued a statement in response to queries from The Irish Times saying:
“Soaring energy prices are putting a huge strain on families and businesses. Today’s protest is a further manifestation of that. The Government should sit down with representatives from the protest and listen to their concerns.
“The Social Democrats have repeatedly called on the Government to introduce a targeted €400 energy credit to those who are suffering most. Regretfully, the Government has declined to do that.”
Asked if it was fair to characterise this as somewhat short of full-throated support, the party said:
“We absolutely understand the increasing pressure people are under and believe further targeted support measures will be necessary as this war continues to escalate.”
At the time of writing, despite a couple of prompts, Labour declined to say if it was supporting the protests or not.
Disruption to Dublin Bus services will ‘last for some time’
A “huge amount of disruption” to Dublin Bus services is continuing throughout the city, according to spokesman Blake Boland.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio’s Drivetime, Boland said Dublin Bus is “doing everything we can on the ground”.
“Even if this did clear in the next minute or two, there’s going to be knock-on impacts for a number of hours,” he said.
“It’s creating disruption that’s going to last for some time, unfortunately.”
‘Inflicting pain on others is probably not the best way to gain support’ - Dublin Town CEO
Noting the impact of the protest on businesses, Dublin Town chief executive Richard Guiney said it is “time for cool heads”.
Guiney, whose organisation represents 2,500 businesses in Dublin city centre, said there is a “better way to communicate a message than causing so much disruption for so many people”.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio’s Drivetime, he said members of Dublin Town have experienced increases in costs driven by the war in the Middle East.
“It’s a problem that I think we all need to work together on, but I think causing disruption to the general public and other businesses and indeed their customers, the shops that take in goods on a daily basis, is probably not the best way to win friends and influence people,” he said.
Guiney estimated business in the city centre was down about 15 per cent on Tuesday due to the disruptions.
“Those kinds of reductions are things that businesses just can’t absorb on a long-term basis.”
“There’s better ways to get the point across, and certainly inflicting pain on others is probably not the best way to gain support,” he said.
People Before Profit has repeated its call for the Government to cap energy prices, saying “soaring prices” are “adding enormously” to cost-of-living pressures.
Dublin city councillor Conor Reddy said recent measures introduced by the Government were “extremely limited”.
“The Government has left the Dáil in recess as the crisis escalates, so it’s no surprise that there are protests on the streets to demand meaningful Government action. This is a Government that rushes to meet every demand from corporate landlords, but is oblivious to the cost of living pressures ordinary people are facing.
“Today’s protest comes as a People Before Profit Bill to cap fuel prices is ready in the Dáil. The Bill proposes to set maximum prices for petrol and diesel of €1.75 per litre, but the Government refuses to support the Bill to pass the necessary stages to come into law.
“It also beggars belief that in the midst of this crisis the Government still refuses to make public transport free. This simple measure would save on transport costs for many and immediately reduce fuel usage,” Reddy said.
“Urgency is required, not dithering,” according to David Hall, chief executive of the Lifeline Ambulance Service, which is under “immense pressure” due to rising fuel costs.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio’s Drivetime, Hall said the protests have been well organised, having made provision for emergency vehicles through bus lanes.
Asked if he agreed with the protesters, Hall said he has 200 staff members and an €87,000 monthly bill for diesel that was €20,000 lower in January.
“Many businesses won’t be open after the summer, many businesses will be closed,” he said.
“We have probably one of the most critical 24 hours in the history of the State given the impact that the United States may have on Iran tonight, so we need action on this.”
Blockade in Galway leaving forecourts without petrol and diesel, fuel retailers say
Fuel retailers have said a blockade in Galway is preventing delivery of petrol and diesel to forecourts in the west of the country, leaving some without stock this evening.
Political Correspondent Jack Horgan-Jones reports:
Kevin McPartland, chief executive of industry lobby group Fuels for Ireland said access to a fuel terminal adjacent to the Port of Galway “has been totally obstructed”, and criticised the Garda for allowing this to occur.
“This not only prevents delivery of fuel to forecourts in the West of Ireland and has led to some being without stock this evening, but more importantly threatens the health and safety of staff in that fuel terminal. We are disappointed that An Garda Síochána allowed this to occur.”
McPartland said the industry has “great empathy” for those protesters who feel the Government should intervene to mitigate the impact of high prices on global fuel markets, arguing that excise reductions agreed last monthhave been wiped out by increased commodity costs.
“That said, some of the tactics employed by protesters have been ill-judged. Despite prior assurances that routes would be maintained for emergency and critical services, we have seen entire motorways blocked,” he said.
Notwithstanding the impact of the protests, McPartland said there was a healthy level of stock in the country as well as “robust and resilient supply chains”.
“Members of Fuels for Ireland will prioritise restocking of forecourts where deliveries were impacted by protesters today.”
An Garda Síochána has been contacted for comment.
