Government announces further cuts to fuel prices and defers carbon tax increase

Main Points

• Government unveils package of supports for farmers, hauliers and sectors impacted heavily by fuel crises.
• Seven arrested during Cork fuel protests.
• A tanker called Thun Gemini - which is carrying six million litres of fuel from Antwerp to Galway Port - has now docked, The Irish Times has learned.
• Sinn Féin will put a motion of no confidence in the Government over its handling of the fuel protest crisis when the Dáil returns

Best Reads

• How the fuel protests brought the country to a standstill
• Fuel protests reveal flawed relationship between farms, fertilisers and food
• Cliff Taylor: To understand the tangled economics of the fuel protests, start with green diesel

Coach Tourism industry welcome, but Opposition rejection for Government’s €505 million support package

Tim O’Brien

The Government package of support for sectors affected by the fuel crisis has been welcomed by The Coach Tourism and Transport Council.

However, the €505 million package of measures were sharply criticised by Opposition parties.

In a statement after the announcement of the package by Taoiseach Michael Martin on Sunday, the Coach Tourism Council said it welcomed the “substantial” support for the bus and coach sector.

The council said the “further reduction in excise on diesel, along with the new Road Transporters Support Scheme, will provide much-needed relief to bus and coach operators dealing with sharply increased fuel costs.”

However, Sinn Féin said it would bring forward a motion of no confidence in the Government this week. A spokesman said the Government “clearly aren’t listening to the people. They haven’t taken the necessary action to make fuel affordable at the pumps, a spokesman said.

The party said what was announced on Sunday “fell far short” of what was required with “working people left behind again.” The party called for the pressure on Government to “now intensify.”

The Labour Party’s finance spokesman Ged Nash said the Party would support the motion of no confidence. It said the Government’s measures were “designed to placate narrow sectoral interests” and had seen the goverGovernmentndon PAYE workers in the process”.

Nash said “the chaos of the last few days has seen this government’s authority drain away. The basic competence of individual Ministers and this administration is now very much in question.

“This is reason enough for Labour to support a planned motion of no confidence in this Government,” he said.

Social Democrats deputy leader and finance spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan said “the measures announced by the Government this evening do not address wider cost of living challenges.”

“Yet again, the Government has failed to do anything to tackle the skyrocketing cost of home heating oil – which 700,000 households are reliant on.

“This Government are either unwilling or unable to get to grips with a spiralling cost-of-living crisis which is having a devastating impact on individuals and families all over the country,” he said.

The Green Party called on the Government to “urgently clarify the impact of the delay in carbon tax increases on the Social Protection and Retrofit budgets.”

Green Party Leader Roderic O’Gorman said while targeted measures to assist farmers, fishers and the haulage sector wer welcome, “the Gov nment must urgently clarify the impact of the delay.”

“The crisis er the last week has been driven by Ireland’s dependence on fossil fuels,” said O’Gorman.

Speaking on RTE’s Nine O’Clock news Taoiseach Michael Martin said “we will take this motion of no confidence head on.”

He said blockades at oil refineries were “illogical” and would have resulted in oil companies exporting oil to markets that wanted it. He also accused the opposition of supporting the blockades.

“It would have resulted in the loss of jobs and increased prices in fuel,” he said.

Ongoing disruption to road traffic is expected over coming days

Tim O’Brien

Ongoing disruption to road distribution is expected over coming days, the National Emergency Coordination Group has warned.

Separately, a number of protesters have described the Government’s €505 million fuel price support package as “insulting” and predicted blockages would return to key infrastructure sites and the streets.

The National Emergency Coordination Group which is overseeing the response of State agencies to the fuel crises said while a number of blockades had been dispersed, logistical disruptions remained in ports and fuel distribution while supply chains remain unsettled.

The co-ordinating group which met on Sunday said a Government – industry group on fuel distribution had been established to restore capacity across the national network

The risks were underlined by a statement from one of the lead fuel price protesters who described the €505 million fuel price support package as “insulting” and warned blockades were likely to return.

James Geoghegan, a Co Westmeath farmer said disparate groups were likely to continue targeting “big infrastructure” after the suite of measures announced by the Government on Sunday evening.

Geoghegan said O’Connell Street may not be on the agenda again as blockading there “doesn’t really do much big harm”. Protesters will likely pick areas that have a bigger impact, such as “big infrastructure” because “this Government is not listening”, he said.

A 2.4 cent reduction to a litre of green diesel is “nothing”, while 10 cents off a litre of petrol and regular diesel is “not enough”, he said.

Having discussed the situation with some other protesters, he said they plan to lobby backbench Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael TDs to warn them their seats are in jeopardy at the next election. They want Micheál Martin removed as Taoiseach and will be supporting a no-confidence motion in the Dáil, he said.

Another high profile figure in the protests, John Dalton, said he did not think the Government’s measures will keep people off the streets.

The Co Kildare farmer, who was among a small group of protesters refused entry to a meeting Ministers last Friday, said the 2.4 cents off green diesel is “an insult”.

“They were telling us they were going to come out with a ‘substantial’ package. That is not a substantial package,” he said.

“The public won’t accept that, I think,” he said.

Meanwhile the HSE is assuring patients that all services are continuing and operational. Unless patients hear to the contrary, they can assume their appointment is going ahead, the HSE said.

Due to ongoing disruptions, the State Examinations Commission (SEC) has deferred the practical examinations scheduled for Monday, 13 April only for Leaving Certificate Music and Junior Cycle Home Economics.

Seven arrested during Cork fuel protests

Seven people have been arrested for public order offences while attending a rally and protest march in Cork City centre on Sunday, writes Barry Roche.

The rally, which attracted several hundred people, began at around midday in Parnell Place and was addressed by anti-immigration campaigner Derek Blighe. Afterwards, protesters began marching up Merchant’s Quay and into St Patrick Street.

The group completed three circuits of St Patrick’s St, Grand Parade, South Mall, Parnell Place and Merchant’s Quay before they were joined by a number of tractors that came from west Cork.

The protest brought traffic in the city centre to a standstill for a period before gardaí succeeded in closing off streets and stopping the protesters from crossing Christy Ring Bridge to the city’s northside.

A small group of protesters continued a slow drive protest involving three trucks and six tractors later in the day driving up and down the Lower Glanmire Road between the city and Dunkettle.

Fuel price support package to cost €505 million

Taoiseach warns “the full rigours of the law” would be applied to any future protests

The full package of measures to support those affected by the fuel price increases will be worth more than half a billion euro, writes Pat Leahy.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin told reporters at Government Buildings this afternoon the fuel price support package is expected to cost the State some €505 million.

Asked what would be the Government’s attitude if there are future protests, the Taoiseach said that “the full rigours of the law will be applied ... There will be no toleration for any attempts to stop people moving about freely on motorways or for people who try to deny the free movement of goods and services.”

Government unveils package of supports for farmers, hauliers and sectors impacted heavily by fuel crises

Jack Horgan Jones and Pat Leahy write: The Government has unveiled a further package of supports worth €505 million – well in excess of expectations.

It consists of new measures, as well as rolled over measures announced last month which have been extended. Carbon tax increases scheduled for May have been delayed until October.

It is, the Coalition said, aimed at supporting people hit by high fuel costs after days of protests and blockades brought parts of the country to a standstill.

After a rare Sunday meeting of the Cabinet Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Simon Harris and Independent Minister for State Sean Canney announced the details of the package at Government Buildings this evening.

The measures to “further mitigate the effects on householders and business” include:

• Extend temporary excise cuts and reductions in oil levies, approved last night, from their original intended stop date of 31st May until the end of July
• There will be a further 10-cent reduction in excise duty on petrol and diesel and a further 2.4-cent reduction on marked gas oil or green diesel – effective from midnight on Tuesday and needing Oireachtas approval
• Carbon tax increases scheduled to take effect from May 1st until Budget day in October
• A new support scheme for truckers – open to licensed hauliers and certain other operators, including local link and school transport services, running until 1st March. Payments to smaller firms will be proportionately greater
• Payments under the trucker scheme, to be called the Road Transporters Support Scheme, will be made for April and May if the price of diesel exceeds €1.90 per litre in the month. The combined cost of the haulage scheme is €40 million.

Asked what would be the Government’s attitude if there are future protests, the Taoiseach said that “The full rigours of the law will be applied ... There will be no toleration for any attempts to stop people moving about freely on motorways or for people who try to deny the free movement of goods and services.”

Blockades end with emotion as the last of the protesters peacefully leave Foynes

Attempt to blockade Cork City centre fails after Garda intervention on Sunday afternoon

“Things aren’t right in this country, there are grown men here crying because they are two weeks away from losing their business.”

Truck driver, Eugene O’Connor, told reporter David Raleigh “these men work hard so, something needs to change, something needs to change.”

Barricades were lifted at the entrance to Foynes fuel terminal as protesters agreed they would go home to their loved ones rather than face a wall of public order gardaí.

The public order unit had earlier used force to open similar blockades at Cork and Galway and arrested a number of protesters in those counties.

The Dublin protest which had blocked O’Connell Street in Dublin, also ended after intervention by gardaí in the early hours of Sunday.

Garda in Cork mounted a policing operation in the city centre this afternoon after a large group of protesters descended on the city in tractors and other vehicles, writes Barry Roche.

It’s understood that around 400 protesters gathered in the Grand Parade in the city centre and have attempted to block up city centre streets but gardaí have called for reinforcements and have begun moving protesters out of the city centre.

Senior officers in Cork City Division had requested assistance and up to 60 public order unit officers from Cork City and county as well as Kerry are being deployed in the operation.

Gardaí managed to get the situation under control and forced tractors and other vehicles out towards the suburbs, effectively diluting the protest.

The Cabinet is meeting this evening and is expected to sign of on a package of measures aimed at reducing the cost of fuel. The Irish Road Haulage Association has written to its members saying it has negotiated a “substantial package” with Government which will be open to anyone with a truck in Ireland.

O’Connor said he believed the protest “woke up” people and politicians to the realisation that if farmers and truckers can’t afford fuel in their tanks “there is no food on the table for people”.

“I apologise to anyone who missed appointments or anything like that, we don’t want to put anyone out, but this (protest) is what we felt we needed to do.”

“There was no riot squad but if we didn’t (stand down) there would be, we were told that we had a choice, to stand down peacefully or the riot squad (public order unit) would be coming.”

Fighting back tears, Independent Ireland TD, Richard O’Donoghue, who stood with the blockade over its six days said: “It’s emotional, all the people here are tired. I couldn’t be more proud of the people I met here, they are the most genuine hardworking people.”

Inside the National Emergency Coordination Group meeting today:

An update from Political Correspondent Jack Horgan-Jones on the closed doors discussion of the National Emergency Coordination Group today:

“We don’t have a readout of the meeting of the National Emergency Coordination Group (NECG) yet, but our understanding is that the meeting focused in particular on the continuing storage restrictions at Rosslare Europort and potential knock on implications to supply chains, trade and employment.

“They also spoke about fuel for emergency vehicles, and the potential activation of something called the “critical service stations plan” - which is basically the plan for getting fuel to blue light vehicles before the general public, and how such a plan would be developed if fuel shortages continue.

“It discussed fuel supplies including planning for once it is released, how it will become available for critical services and then essential services.”

‘Substantial package agreed’ haulage association tells members

All truck owners, not just licenced hauliers, would be able to take advantage of a new scheme set to go to government for approval, reports Political Correspondent Jack Horgan-Jones.

The Irish Road Haulage Association has written to its members saying it has negotiated a “substantial package” with government which will be open to anyone with a truck in Ireland.

It told members the package “hopefully will be signed off later this evening”.

In a communication to members, IRHA president Ger Hyland said that the scheme will be similar to the 2022 Licensed Haulage Emergency Support Scheme (LHSS) but added: “This package negotiated by the IRHA is not just for licensed hauliers, it is for anyone who has trucks in Ireland”

“Normal criteria will apply, trucks must be registered to the claimant, claimants must be tax compliant, and trucks must also have current road tax.

Full details will be announced by the Minister along with the rest of the support packages this evening," members were told.

Tanker stuck for days off Irish coast finally able to dock

A tanker called Thun Gemini - which is carrying six million litres of fuel from Antwerp to Galway Port - has now docked, The Irish Times has learned.

The Dutch-flagged tanker was expected to land in Galway on Friday, but was forced to sit waiting in Galway Bay due to a lack of fuel capacity at the port.

The boat was unable to dock as the tanks in the port, into which it would have unloaded its fuel, were full as supply lines ground to a halt in recent days.

It carries green and white diesel, for agricultural and general use respectively, as well as kerosene for home heating.

Open-source tracking data from MarineTraffic.com shows the vessel - and its six million litres of fuel - have entered Galway Port.

Due to the removal of the blockade of Galway Port by gardaí on Sunday morning, sufficient capacity for the tanker to unload fuel will shortly be available, according to a source with knowledge of the operations.

It is understood this fuel will begin to be unloaded tonight or early tomorrow, with the diesel likely to reach customers late on Monday.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin had previously aired concerns that the oil on board could be sold off elsewhere if the blockades prevented it from unloading.

Cut fuel excise even without permission from Brussels says Healy Rae

Independent Minister of State Michael Healy Rae has said the government should cut excise on fuel even if Brussels does not approve such a step, reports Political Correspondent Jack Horgan-Jones.

The government has written to EU president Ursula von der Leyen seeking flexibility on EU rules that set minimum tax rates for petrol and diesel, which would allow the coalition to expand on earlier cuts made to those tax rates three weeks ago.

Speaking to The Irish Times on Sunday afternoon, the Kerry TD said other countries had already taken such a step.

“Even if we have to contravene regulaitons on how we do excise on fuel, I think we should,” he said.

Spain and Poland, he said, had taken such a step, adding: “What’s going to happen to them, they might get a slap on the wrist.”

“Sometimes you have to stand back and say why do we always have to do what we’re told by Europe,” he said.

“Now’s the time for the government to be strong and now’s the time to do our best.”

Amid a hard line from other government ministers, Healy Rae has been more supportive of protestors, and today said he was “very upset it came to what it came to, and a sight of a working person being pulled out of tractors and taken to the ground, that’s not good”.

When it was put to him that some had blockaded fuel depots and stopped petrol and diesel from being distrubted, he said he would “question the stopping of the fuel” while supporting the protestors.

“Those people are not blaggards, they’re working people,” he said.

Healy-Rae’s comments during the week are understood to have irked senior government leaders, and while he held back from criticising government’s approach directly on Sunday, he said: “I really believe what happened was a shame -- if there had been earlier intervention in a proper way - certain things left go on for too long and it made the situation worse.”

“What I’d say is let us see now the raft of measures coming forward and I would hope (that) would be the answer to the call these workers have been making over the last number of days.”

Workers must not ‘pick up the tab for yet another crisis’ - Unite

The burden of the ongoing fuel crisis in Ireland must not fall on workers, with cost of living challenges expected to worse, said trade union Unite.

“The cost-of-living measures introduced last month were nothing more than a sticking plaster and did not address the cost crisis facing workers across Ireland,” Unite’s Irish secretary Susan Fitzgerald said.

“Radical surgery is required to ensure that the economy meets the needs of workers and our communities, and that they are not asked to pick up the tab for yet another crisis.

“Given that there no real end in sight to war in the Middle East, the likelihood is that the cost-of-living crisis will worsen further,” Fitzgerald said, noting unions “unions must be sharply focused on the need to defend the living standards of all workers.”

She warned employers “not to repeat previous attempts to use this crisis to lowball workers or renege on pay agreements,” threatening workplace and sector-wide industrial action in response.

The union said it will conduct internal discussion on how to force the Government “to act in the interests of workers”.

Road closure updates from TII

Government writes to von der Leyen seeking leeway from EU rules to combat fuel prices

The Government has written to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, seeking derogations and some leeway from EU rules in a number of areas, to help dull the impact of rising fuel costs, Europe Correspondent Jack Power reports.

Sources in Government had flagged a plan to ask for flexibility on EU rules that set minimum tax rates for petrol and diesel, which would likely allow the Coalition to expand on earlier cuts made to those tax rates three weeks ago.

It is understood the letter, which is being reviewed inside the commission, indicates the Government is hoping to provide some assistance around fuel to farmers and other particularly hard pressed sectors of the economy.

Any proposal to change EU legislation setting the existing minimum tax rates on fuel would require the support of all 27 member states.

Officials in Brussels were already preparing to announce a package of energy reforms in the coming days, to help curb rising prices.

It is understood the commission’s plan may involve temporarily relaxing state-aid rules, to free the hand of national capitals to subsidise energy-intensive industries during the crisis.

There remains serious concern inside the EU’s executive body that the shock to global oil and gas supplies may continue for some time, particularly given the damage the war caused to key production plants and facilities in the Gulf.

Brussels officials want to steer governments away from announcing sweeping energy supports, fearing that will drive up public deficits and inflation. Instead the commission favour more targeted interventions.

The commission recently chastised Poland and Spain for slashing Vat charged on fuel, asking both governments to consider reductions in excise duties.

Government cannot protect consumers from all Iran war fallout

It is not possible to completely protect consumers from all fallout from the war in Iran, Minister of State Timmy Dooley has said.

Speaking to RTÉ’s This Week programme on Sunday, Dooley indicated there will be “considerable additional support” for hauliers, farmers and agricultural contractors agreed at a cabinet meeting this afternoon.

He said no final package had been agreed as of now, and would not be drawn on the overall sum to be spent.

“It’s ultimately about trying to find measures that assist people and assist contractors, assist hauliers, bus people, heavy diesel users, through what is a very difficult season,” he said.

He said some of the asks from the protestors “do not fall within the capacity of government to respond to all aspects of that”.

With a no confidence motion in the government promised by Sinn Féin next week, Dooley said “no government anywhere in the world is going to be able to respond to all of the negative impacts as a result of the war in Iran” - reports Political Correspondent Jack Horgan-Jones.

Protesters gather at Garda roadblock in Galway city

An update from Andrew Hamilton on the situation in Galway:

The six-day blockade of the Galway fuel depot has been lifted today following a coordinated Garda operation involving dozens of gardaí, including members of the public order unit.

A small group of individuals began to gather on the Dock Road in Galway since the blockade was cleared early this morning, the location of the largest Garda roadblock.

This group of protesters has swelled to around 100 people in recent hours, with many of the new arrivals carrying Irish flags.

The Irish Times approached a number of individual protesters on the Dock Road this afternoon, but none were willing to comment.

A large number of gardaí descended on the Galway harbour just before 8am this morning with a series of roadblocks put in place.

No attempt was made by any member of this group to interfere with the Garda operation, and the force’s roadblocks in the area are expected to be lifted in the coming hour.

Video has emerged online of gardaí physically removing individuals from the main bridge to the fuel depot. Two boats from the Garda Water Unit were also present at the scene as well as a Garda helicopter.

Special equipment was brought in to dismantle barricades, which had been erected on the site on Tuesday, while a number of heavy vehicles have also been removed.

Fuel supplies resuming from Ireland’s only oil refinery

An update on the situation at Ireland’s only oil refinery in Cork from Southern Correspondent Barry Roche:

Fuel supplies have resumed from Whitegate oil refinery on Sunday morning after protesters lifted their blockade on Saturday evening, and oil tankers are collecting supplies without any difficulty from the facility.

Protesters decided at 5pm on Saturday to lift their blockade at around 5pm on Saturday and by 6pm, all the lorries and tractors which had blocked the main approach road had been removed and full access to the Irving Oil refinery in Whitegate had been restored.

Some ten tankers accessed the refinery overnight and a further 25 tankers were expected by lunch hour as gardai maintained a presence in the east Cork village to ensure that no further blockades or rolling protests impeded access.

“Some tanker drivers didn’t want to break the blockade – they said it would be like passing a picket – but once the blockade were lifted they were all happy to come and collect petrol and diesel for delivery to filling stations,” said a Garda source.

There were some traffic delays later on Saturday at around 10pm when a convoy of protesters driving mainly tractors blocked both lanes of the northbound bore of the Jack Lynch Tunnel which leads from the N40 South Ring Road to the M8 Cork-Dublin road.

However, when gardaí approached the protesters and pointed out that the slow moving convoy was causing a safety risk for motorists as they could not exit the tunnel quickly in the event of a fire, the protesters moved into one lane, leaving the other lane free.

It’s understood that the protest was over in less than 30 minutes and normal access to the tunnel was restored with traffic passing freely from the south and west to the Cork Dublin motorway as well as to the East Cork Parkway and N25 leading to east Cork and Waterford.

Irish fuel network suffered ‘massive shock’ due to protests

Fuel retailers are beginning to “claw back” supplies, although several hundred forecourts around the country remain without supplies, the sector’s main lobby group has said.

Speaking to RTÉ’s This Week programme on Sunday, Fuels for Ireland chief executive Kevin McPartlan said that if supplies had not been gradually restarted after blockades at depots were stood down, two thirds of petrol stations around the country would have run out of supplies.

He said that Whitegate oil refinery would be back at full capacity within 24 hours, after the blockade was lifted yesterday.

A ship waiting to dock off Galway, laden with oil, is now due to come into port within the next hour, he said.

“It will be unloaded and that will be put out to market tomorrow,” he said.

McPartlan said there had been a “massive shock” to distribution infrastructure in Ireland. He reiterated a previous statement that it would take around ten days to return to a normal cycle of deliveries.

He said he expected there would be a task force set up to expedite the logistics of returning to a normal situation as soon as possible - Political Correspondent Jack Horgan-Jones.

Social Democrats to join Sinn Féin in no confidence motion

The Social Democrats will support a Sinn Féin motion of no confidence in the Government over its handling of the ongoing fuel crisis in Ireland.

“The Social Democrats have no confidence in this government’s ability to manage this crisis - and, for that reason, we will support the no confidence motion in them,” Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns said in a statement.

Cairns said the protests are a “manifestation of how desperate many people feel as costs continue to soar - not just for fuel, but for everything in this country”.

She said that people are “increasingly struggling to pay for the basics” and said the Government is not listening to the public: “They are out of touch and out of ideas.”

In the statement, Cairns said: “All of the indications now are that the support package, being considered by the cabinet later today, is going to exclude huge numbers of people who are under significant pressure.

Independent Ireland has also said it would support the motion, but it would would still need support from Independents supporting government to pass, which is understood to be highly unlikely.

Independent Ireland to support Sinn Féin no-confidence motion

Independent Ireland has said it will support the Sinn Féin motion. The party said at lunchtime that the government had failed to listen and failed to address the concerns of protesters.

“The discontent around the country is not solely about fuel prices. It reflects broader concerns — and the ongoing failure to address so many issues affecting communities in both rural and urban Ireland.

Crucially, there has been a continued failure to listen to those communities. People feel ignored and disconnected from decision-making processes that directly impact their daily lives."

Notwithstanding support from other opposition parties, the Sinn Féin motion would still need support from Independents supporting government to pass, a highly unlikely scenario. - Political Correspondent Jack Horgan-Jones.

Rosslare Harbour soon unable to unload freight unless blockade ends

Rosslare Harbour will be unable to unload freight from docking ships tomorrow morning unless the ongoing blockade ends, a spokesperson said.

Jane Creegan, a spokesperson for Iarnród Éireann - which runs the port said that there is a “significant tailback” caused by the blockade.

On most days, the harbour would see more than 200 trucks move to and from the port, but that nothing has left the port since the blockade began on Thursday.

On Sunday, the port had its first convoy depart in days. Around 60 trucks left the port - these were accompanied freight vehicles.

Creegan said the port as a “situation with unaccompanied freight”, as drivers are unable to enter the port to collect these trailers.

She said there is are two ships due at 6pm on Sunday and another early on Monday morning, but after those are unloaded, Rosslare Harbour will not have any more capacity for freight.

“Ships will continue to dock,” Creegan told RTÉ Radio 1, with passengers on board being permitted to disembark, but that unaccompanied freight may not be unloaded.

Sinn Féin to bring no confidence motion over Government handling of fuel crisis

Sinn Féin will put a motion of no confidence in the Government over its handling of the fuel protest crisis when the Dáil returns, reports Political Correspondent Jack Horgan-Jones.

In a statement on Sunday lunchtime, the party said its TDs and Senators met this morning and agreed to move a motion of no confidence in the Government.

“The actions of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Independents have been disastrous. They have lost the confidence of the public. It is clear that they still are not listening and do not accept the scale of this fuel and cost of living crisis.”

It continued: “All reports indicate it will be more of the same half measures from them this evening. This is unacceptable. We need the maximum reductions now, as proposed by Sinn Féin weeks ago.”

Protesters shocked by ‘militant’ Garda action

One of the most high profile protesters, John Dallon, has said he is “in shock” following the “horrendous” actions of the Garda public order unit in the early hours of the morning, reports Ellen O’Riordan.

Dallon, who was one of the protesters refused entry to a meeting with the Government on Friday, said “the carry on of last night” was “absolutely horrendous” and “pure militant style”.

“No Irish person should have to stand for this militant style … That’s the way last night was carried out; pure Black and Tans,” he said, adding that “action” will be taken against the State over it.

He was on O’Connell Street when the reinforcements were brought in at about 3.45am, he said.

“I saw them coming in and I just said: ‘My God, what has Ireland come to?”

There were 17 and 18-year-olds crying, said Dallon, adding: “Who do these people think we are? We are a peaceful protest. We are the farmers. We are the people who feed the country.”

An Garda Síochana said its public order units were deployed to O’Connell Street during the night. Blockader vehicles wre being removed under escort and “blockaders must comply with Garda directions”, the force said.

The gardaí stationed around O’Connell Street over previous days were “very good” to the protesters and vice versa, said Dallon.

He said he never disrespected the Government, which he accused of carrying out “bullying” and “arrogant” tactics.

The Taoiseach may say the Garda approach of last was needed, but, Dallon said, it was “not at all”.

“Dialogue, dialogue, dialogue; that is where they could have gone.”

Asked where do the protests go from here, Dallon said he personally has “no plans” and has “stepped back at the moment”.

“Whatever the people of Ireland wish to do, I have no control in it.”

The meeting of the National Emergency Coordination Group has finished. We’re expecting word on what was discussed shortly.

More to follow...

Road closure updates from TII

Up to 10 days before fuel network is back to normal, Fuels for Ireland says

The removal of blockades at fuel depots across the country will not mean an immediate return to normal, according to Fuels for Ireland.

The industry group has warned that it could take as long as 10 days before the national supply lines to be fully restored, “It cannot simply be switched back on at full capacity the moment access improves”.

Fuels for Ireland chief executive, Kevin McPartlan said: “Reopening infrastructure is a significant step forward, but it does not mean the national fuel distribution system can return to normal immediately.”

The umbrella group boss said the industry is dealing with a logistics crisis “caused by days of disruption to critical infrastructure and the surrounding road network”.

“We predict it could take up to ten days to restore the full national network of supply,” he said. “Fuel distribution operates as a national network.

“It cannot simply be switched back on at full capacity the moment access improves. Stocks have to be rebuilt, delivery schedules reset, routes normalised and supply patterns across the country rebalanced. That takes time.”

Operational constraints, limitations on drivers’ hours which have been “heavily consumed by delays”, safety concerns, and road disruption, are among the issues cited by McPartlan.

“The public should expect improvement over days, rather than an immediate return to normality within hours. The priority now is to restore a reliable national distribution as quickly and safely as possible.”

Coalition to meet within the hour

Coalition leaders are to meet within the hour as a multimillion euro package of supports is being finalised, reports Political Correspondent Jack Horgan-Jones.

Indications are that more progress has been made finalising supports for hauliers than for farmers and the agricultural sector.

As of late Sunday morning, with fuel depot blockades being stood down and protests being cleared, things may also be entering something of an endgame politically (for now, anyway). Here’s what’s happening today:

The National Emergency Coordination Group is meeting around now (11.30am) to discuss the situation on the ground. This group has heard stark warnings of the impact of fuel shortages in recent days, with reports on Sunday morning about fuel rationing being possible as more forecourts run dry. We’ll expect a press release from that during the day.

Meanwhile, talks between government ministers and recognised representative bodies are moving forward. There seems to be little doubt that a package of supports will be on the table - especially with blockades being lifted or cleared, which the government had indicated would be a precondition for a package being approved.

So, what do we know about the package?

It seems highly unlikely that two core asks of the protesters will be accommodated: the capping of fuel costs or the scrapping of the carbon tax. What’s more likely is some form of direct payment scheme to those affected.

Sources involved in the talks say hauliers want a version of a 2022 scheme that kicked in after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This provided state support of €100 for eight weeks for each eligible heavy goods vehicle.

Supports for farmers seem a little trickier to design, as of Sunday morning, with some way of targeting payments needed rather than a blanket payout to all farmers or agricultural contractors. There have been fodder, tillage and weather related payments before - so perhaps something like this could be adopted.

The total cost of the package remains to be nailed down, but we are looking in the tens of millions at the moment - perhaps well into that area.

Government sources say they expect detailed plans to be finalised around lunchtime, having been worked on through the night. Coalition leaders are meeting at 12.30pm with senior ministers, so we’d be expecting them to discuss the shape of the support package then.

Then there’s expected to be pre-cabinet meetings of the respective parties cabinet teams around 3pm, with a full cabinet meeting to follow at 4pm. It’s expected any package will be signed off there, and there should be a press conference thereafter - if all goes to plan.

Protesters at Foynes Port vote to end blockade at 1pm

A fuel blockade that has been erected at the entrances to the Shannon Foynes Port Company and fuel terminal at Foynes, Co Limerick, is to stand down at 1pm this afternoon, organisers said.

The protesters at Foynes voted to end the blockade at 1pm.

It was anticipated that a garda public order unit, which had opened blockades at Cork on Saturday, and Galway on Sunday, would travel to Foynes next.

In a statement, Independent Ireland TD Richard O’Donoghue, who supported the blockade, said a meeting between the protesters took place on Sunday morning.

“We are going to pull out of Foynes today peacefully - as we came in peacefully - at 1 o’clock today.”

He said the decision was made following “a vote with the people who have been here for the last five or six days”, including hauliers, the agricultural contractors, and the local community.

The blockade of the port began on Tuesday, but Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly appeared to confirm on Saturday that gardaí would move to disperse the blockades at Foynes Port in Limerick, Galway Port, and Rosslare Europort.

The blockade in Galway city was broken up by gardaí in the early hours on Sunday morning.

“We’re on our way home, we’re leaving at one o’clock. Thank you,” O’Donoghue added. - David Raleigh, reporting from Limerick.

Roads to Dublin Airport are clear

All roads leading to Dublin Airport are now clear, State airport operator DAA said.

The all-clear comes following “the overnight removal of remaining blockades on the M50” by gardaí, but DAA warned “the potential for further disruption remains”.

Passengers travelling to Dublin Airport were advised check live traffic updates when planning their journey and to “remain vigilant”.

The last tractors are being removed from O’Connell Street now:

O’Connell Street is closed off to traffic this morning, with gardaí stationed at either end of the road.

A lone, empty tractor sits abandoned half way up the street. Next to the Spire is a truck that also appears to be empty. - Ellen O’Riordan

Gardaí announced on Sunday morning that all blockades in Dublin had been cleared following an overnight operation on O’Connell Street.

Superintendent Jarlath Lennon of Store Street Garda station earlier told RTÉ Radio 1 that Dublin will “soon be open again for business”.

Gardaí seal off Galway fuel depot as crowds gather near docks

Gardaí have sealed off a large section of Galway city this morning as they attempt to break the ongoing blockade of the Galway fuel depot - reports Andrew Hamilton.

Road blocks have been put in place on Lough Alalia, Bóthar Na nDuganna and at the Fairgreen Road/Galway Coach Station preventing both traffic and pedestrians from entering the area around the depot.

While gardaí are not permitting access to the depot itself, videos have emerged online which appear to show gardaí removing individuals from the main access point to the depot.

In these videos, some of the protesters appear to be chanting “peaceful protest” as they kneel or sit on the access road, while some others appear to be shouting insults at the gardaí.

A crowd of around 50 people has gathered at the Galway docks, where the main Garda presence is currently located.

A number of these people say they are here to join the blockade or offer support to the protesters.

“We were here yesterday. We came down to offer food and moral support to about 20 or 30 boys who were protesting peacefully. There was maybe 12 gardaí there yesterday, but nothing like we are seeing today,” said one man who declined to give his name.

“I was intending to do the same this morning. I’m going to stay here and peacefully observe what is going on. I’m not going to break any barriers or anything like that. Just like the lads [the protesters], I won’t be doing anything illegal, anything violent.”

Protesters ‘ambushed’ by ‘army’ of gardaí, spokesman says

Fuel protesters in Dublin city centre were “ambushed” by an “army” of public order units, according to a spokesman for the blockaders.

On Sunday morning, gardaí announced all blockades in Dublin had been cleared following an overnight operation on O’Connell Street.

Steel barriers have been erected on surrounding roads to prevent further access, with An Garda Síochána monitoring the cordon while street cleaners cleared debris.

Speaking about the overnight operation on O’Connell Street, protest spokesman Christopher Duffy said he was “upset”, “disappointed” and “angry”.

“Nobody in the city of Dublin or the country could say our assembly was anything but peaceful.”

Duffy said he believes protesters were denied due process, adding: “We got absolutely ambushed here last night by what I can only describe as an army of (public order gardaí).

“At this point, we’re pulling out of O’Connell Street because we have been threatened with – I don’t know the law, section 8 on the vehicles – if we don’t get out by a certain time they’re threatening to tow the vehicles on us.

“These vehicles are very expensive with automatic transmissions and everything, and if they drag them with the engine not on they could wreck them.

“So we have no choice, financially we have to move the vehicles.”

He called for rural TDs and independents “propping up the Government” to call a motion of no confidence in the Coalition.

Asked if the overall protests are now over, he said: “I don’t think so.” – Reuters

Schoolbuses expected to resume on Monday, says Bus Éireann

The schoolbus scheme run by Bus Éireann is expected to resume on Monday but said “delays and potential service disruption” are likely if blockades continue.

Bus Éireann said the State-run school transport scheme is “intended to resume” on Monday following the Easter break.

The state-owned bus company said it is working to ensure “any disruption to school transport services is limited and localised”.

“Parents are advised that if blockades continue to impact on road access in some parts of the country and challenges continue with fuel distribution, there are likely to be delays and potential service disruption experienced to some services,” it said in a statement.

Bus Éireann said it would notify families directly of any disruption to service.

Road closure updates from TII

Drivers continue to be warned that “significant delays” remain “likely to occur” across the country due to blockades on motorways.

A small number of vehicles remain on O’Connell Street

Around 20 large vehicles and tractors remain on O’Connell Street and the quays in Dublin following a major garda operation to clear the blockade in the early hours of Sunday.

Steel barriers have been erected on surrounding roads to prevent further access.

A small group of protest participants and supporters remained at the scene at 8am. A Garda presence was monitoring the cordon while street cleaners cleared debris. – PA

Emergency meetings and overnight operations: The situation on Sunday morning

The blockade of Dublin’s main thoroughfare has been cleared in a late-night garda operation, ahead of an emergency Cabinet meeting to sign off on measures the Government hopes will bring all protests over fuel costs to an end.

The protests – which involved blockades of streets in the capital, Ireland’s only oil refinery, and key depots – strangled fuel distribution across the country and prompted an escalated policing response that resulted in several arrests and public order gardaí deployed in Cork, Galway and Dublin.

Some of the protests, which began on Tuesday, rolled overnight into Sunday morning, with spokesmen calling on the Government to take urgent action to reduce fuel costs, which they say are at unsustainable levels and will lead to people going out of business.

The Government is expected to sign off on fuel-cost measures on Sunday evening, but it remains to be seen if it will convince protesters to call off their actions before the return of schools on Monday adds to pressure on the roads.

An Garda Síochána cleared a blockade of the Whitegate oil refinery in Co Cork around lunchtime on Saturday and vowed to implement further enhanced enforcement actions.

It saw physical clashes between protesters and gardaí, who used pepper spray during the hour-long operation, which resecured access for fuel trucks.

Gardaí were later called to a similar action at Galway harbour, where hundreds of protesters gathered in pouring rain while restricting access to a fuel depot by blocking the way with tractors.

Members of the Public Order Unit, wearing protective gear and batons, were at the scene for hours overnight.

On Sunday morning, An Garda Síochána announced all blockades in Dublin had been cleared following an overnight operation on O’Connell Street.

It said illegally parked vehicles would be removed and blockading vehicles were removed under escort.

Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly had vowed to step up enforcement against fuel-cost protesters, “endangering the state” by blocking critical infrastructure.

Protesters’ demands for meetings with Government were not acceded to but relevant ministers held talks with established national representative bodies on Friday and Saturday.

These meetings concluded with a “substantial” package involving a temporary fuel transport support scheme” and “temporary fuel support”.

It is understood the transport support scheme will see direct payments to businesses in the sectors affected by high fuel costs.

A senior source said the scheme will be part of a broader package on the fuel crisis.

The engagements included Irish Road Haulage Association president Ger Hyland, who said there were “the bones of an agreement” with the Government.

He added he hoped the “substantial package”, understood to include a direct payment scheme, would be agreed by Sunday morning.

The Cabinet is due to meet on Sunday afternoon to sign off on the measures.

The pledge of a “substantial” package was not enough to dissuade protesters away from their blockades without Garda intervention on Saturday.

Commissioner Kelly said on Saturday evening: “Some people have decided to escalate an already difficult situation by blockading critical national infrastructure such as fuel depots and refineries.

“This has resulted in fuel shortages that are directly impacting on emergency services such as hospitals, the ambulance service and the fire service, as well as businesses and the general public.

“These are blockades. They are not a legitimate form of protest.”

He said: “We gave the blockaders fair warning that we were moving to enforcement and they choose to ignore it and continue to hold the country to ransom.”

A small number of Defence Forces personnel with heavy-lift recovery trucks have been on standby to assist gardaí with moving large vehicles if needed.

The escalated enforcement action came after Fuels for Ireland chief executive Kevin McPartlan said around 600 of the 1,500 filling stations in the Republic of Ireland had run dry on Saturday morning.

He predicted the number “would grow quite dramatically” if the blockades on Whitegate in Cork and Foynes, Co Limerick, continued.

Blockades have resulted in full closures of parts of the M50 ring road around Dublin, as well as other major motorways, although Gardaí announced blockades on the M50 at junctions five and seven had been cleared on Sunday morning.

Meanwhile, police in Northern Ireland said they are “maintaining an ongoing assessment” in relation to social media posts calling for similar planned protests there.

A PSNI spokeswoman said: “A policing response has been prepared, if needed, to ensure public safety and to help minimise any potential disruption to the wider community.” – PA

M50 blockade cleared after three days, TII say

TII say the blockage on the M50 between junction 6 and junction 5 northbound, has been cleared. The blockade began on Thursday, April 9th.

Garda expect Dublin city will return to normal later today

As Garda begin clearing the blockade on O’Connell Street, the force are hoping Dublin will return to normal later today.

Superintendent Jarlath Lennon of Store Street Garda station told RTÉ Radio 1 that Dublin will “soon be open again for business”.

Lennon said he expects limits on access to the city centre as the day continues, but that the disruption to travel and access to the centre of the city will be limited as a result of the “graduated response” from the Gardaí.

Could we be looking at the future of protests in Ireland?

Every political problem faced by recent governments has been solved – to a greater or lesser extent – by finding money to throw at it, writes political editor Pat Leahy.

“We have all become used to a set of economic and political conditions that are quite unusual. It would be foolish to think that they can never change. Especially when the world is so obviously and so quickly changing around us. And just as past political outcomes would have been different without a bulging exchequer, so the future will be different if the tax revenues begin to decline – or even just stop growing.

“It would look something like this week. If the economy experiences a downturn and the Government sees a decline in revenues, people will react not to abstract debates of political economy but to their own circumstances.”

Read more here.

Fuel protests reveal flawed relationship between farms, fertilisers and food, writes Caroline O’Doherty

One of the slogans hung on tractors and recited at this week’s protests declared “No farms, no food”, implying both were under threat from the fuel price crisis.

An emotive rallying cry, it was accompanied by claims that fields could be left idle with fertilisers being too expensive to buy and farm machinery too expensive to run.

A contributor to one of the WhatsApp groups set up to co-ordinate actions around the country was riled up.

“Dublin needs to be starved,” he wrote. “Let them know where their food comes from.”

Another contributor stepped in to offer an alternative view. “Most of our food is imported.”

The brief exchange went to the heart of a contradiction in Ireland’s food supply.

Read more here.

Road closure updates from TII

Following are the locations with full road closures in place on the motorways currently

DUBLIN TUNNEL:

DUBLIN TUNNEL FULL CLOSURE

M50:

M50 J05 - FINGLAS

M50 between J05 - FINGLAS and J06 - BLANCHARDSTOWN Direction Both

M1:

M1 J18 - CARLINGFORD Direction Both

M4:

M4/N4 J01 - N4/M50 Direction eastbound Slip closed from M4 to M50 North and the City

N4:

M4/N4 J16 - BALLAGH and J17 - CULLEEN BEG Direction both

M6:

M6/N6 between J08 - ATHLONE and J09 - GARRYCASTLE Direction both

M7:

M7 between J16 - PORTLAOISE and J17 - PORTLAOISE Direction both

M7 between J29 - M7/N24 and J30 - M7/N18/M20 Direction both

M8:

M8 between J04 - URLINGFORD and J11 - CAHIR(SOUTH) Direction both

N24 between M8 Junction and R640 Roundabout Direction eastbound

M11:

M11/N11 between ENNISCORTHY and J23 - COURTOWN Direction northbound

M11/N11 between J22 - GOREY and J233 - COURTOWN Direction southbound

M18:

M18/N18 between J02 - DOCK and J01 - ROSSBRIEN Direction southbound

M18/N18 J11 - DROMOLAND Direction both

M18/N18 J13 - TULLA Direction both

M18/N18 J14 - BAREFIELD Direction southbound Slip R458 to M18

M20 :

M20/N20 between J02 -DOORADOYLE and J01 - M7/N18/M20 Direction northbound

O’Connell Street latest

Frontline uniform gardaí, plain clothes gardaí and garda public order units were deployed.

At 6.45am, An Garda Síochána said an operation is ongoing on O’Connell Street to remove all illegally parked vehicles.

Gardaí clear protesters from O’Connell Street in the early hours on Sunday

A blockade of Dublin’s main thoroughfare has been cleared in a late-night Garda operation, ahead of an emergency Cabinet meeting to sign off on measures the government hopes will bring all protests over fuel costs to an end.

On Sunday morning Gardaí announced all blockades in Dublin had been cleared following an overnight operation on O’Connell Street.

The Whitegate operation saw physical clashes between protesters and gardaigardaí, who used pepper spray during the hour-long operation which resecured access for fuel trucks.

Gardai were later called to a similar action at Galway harbour, where hundreds of protesters gathered in pouring rain while restricting access to a fuel depot by blocking the way with tractors.

Members of the Public Order Unit, wearing protective gear and batons, were at the scene for hours overnight. - Press Association

Fuel protest enters sixth day

Taoiseach Micheál Martin will convene a Cabinet meeting on Sunday amid continuing nationwide protests over the rising cost of fuel.

The unusual step comes after engagements on Saturday between the Government and representative groups on possible supports for farmers, hauliers, and contractors most affected by the spike in costs triggered by the war in Iran.

The temporary Fuel Support Scheme is expected to be introduced, though the Government has said it will not be unveiled until after the protests end.

Read more here.