Motorists have been warned that a national fuel protest may bring commuting routes into Dublin and other major roads around the country to a standstill on Tuesday.
The protest is being organised by local activists over spiralling diesel, petrol and home heating oil prices caused by the ongoing war in the Middle East.
The Garda said it was aware of planned convoys along the M1,N2,N3, N4, M7, N11 and other routes.
National fuel protest assembly points involve the M1 Convoy meeting at Castlebellingham Services, the N2 Convoy at the Ardee – Carrickmacross link, N3 Convoy at Virginia Service Area/ Clonee Side, N4 Convoy at the Enfield Services, M7 Convoy at Junction 14 and N11 Convoy at Ashfield Services North. All the convoy protests are to assemble at 7am.
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Other locations where protesters are encouraged to join are at the Red Cow, Liffey Valley, M50 North Services, Bray Northbound Merge and Naas Northbound Services.
The intention is for all convoys to merge and form one large convoy into Dublin. Full details of the route will be made available by organisers on Tuesday.
Protests are also leaving locations in Cork at the same time.
Protests are also being encouraged at Portumna Bridge in Galway where many protesters from Clare, Tipperary, Offaly and Galway are expected to assemble.
Limerick is also going to be hit by protests with starting points for Tuesday’s rolling protest starting at Beary’s Cross in Ballysimon, Daly’s Cross Annacotty, Croom Patrickswell and Bunratty village from 8am.
All convoys will create big traffic disruption along the route as part of the protest, with the main objective being a continuous rolling blockade from Junction 29 on the M7 to Junction 2 on the N18, and back again in a circular route.
In a statement, the Garda said that if the proposed 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.”
“An Garda Síochána has had limited interaction with some persons involved in publishing information about these convoys,” the statement said. “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.”
The statement said that while An Garda Síochána facilitates peaceful protest, it “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.”
Independent Ireland TD Richard O’Donoghue, who is based in Limerick, said on an online statement that the protest is about the Government taxation on fuel. “The Government is taking huge taxes, while business and people starve ... This is not about the war in Iran, it’s about the taxation on fuel,” he said.
O’Donoghue appealed to those taking part to ensure that they leave all road hard shoulders free for emergency services.
Athlone Stands Together said in a statement that protesters must “obey the direction of protest marshalls and keep lane discipline while being mindful of the emergency services.
“Convoys will be leaving at various times between 8am and 9am.”
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Meanwhile, the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) said it is “not involved” in the planned protests.
“We understand that each member needs to do what they feel is right for their business,” it said.
The association said its management team is in talks with the Government and hopes to have “further aid for our sector by the end of the week”.
IRHA representatives met Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien over the weekend to discuss the ongoing impact of the Middle East crisis on fuel costs.
The IRHA said the fuel price crisis was approaching the level of “a national emergency” and has called on the Government to “react swiftly” and agree another package of measures with hauliers.
