Gardai and the emergency services are prepared for widespread traffic disruption today as truckers in convoys plan to stage a 24-hour "slow protest" on national routes.
The action by members of the Irish Road Haulage Association follows the association's failure to secure an immediate reduction in excise duty on diesel. It comes as truck drivers in Britain and on the continent eased their blockades after a week when highways were closed and 90 per cent of petrol stations in Britain were shut down.
Hopes for a last-minute compromise faded yesterday as the Taoiseach again ruled out reducing excise duty on diesel before the Budget in December. In Cork Mr Ahern said excise and taxation matters could be discussed only in terms of the next Budget.
The worst disruption is likely to be in Dublin, where trucks are scheduled to converge on the M50 motorway and Dublin Port at mid-morning. Continuous slow-moving convoys will also set off from the drivers' home towns at daybreak for Waterford, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Letterkenny and Rosslare port.
Special arrangements have been made for emergency services, co-ordinated through six Garda command centres. The Garda has appealed to hauliers not to cause a blockade which could hamper emergency vehicles. There is no minimum speed limit, but gardai have warned that it is illegal to block entrances.
Passage is to be allowed for emergency vehicles and essential services along hard shoulders. Access to Dublin Airport is expected to be difficult, particularly from the south and west.
The Automobile Association advised motorists to postpone any unnecessary journeys and, if this was not possible, to allow plenty of extra time.
The IRHA president, Mr Gerry McMahon, asked members to maintain a dignified and peaceful protest. He pointed out, however, that independent protests are also being planned across the State by hauliers who are not members of the IRHA. The association has 1,200 members, but there are 4,000 licensed hauliers in the State.
The association's national council will meet in Dublin tomorrow morning to assess the effect of the protest and review its future strategy.
Irish exporters have been trying to alter their transport plans to limit the impact of the protest. Some exporters, including mushroom growers, have expressed concern about the potential financial consequences if their products are late getting to their destinations.
In Britain slow progress back to normality began last night, as demonstrators called off their blockades claiming a moral victory, and demanding a fuel cut within 60 days.
Oil companies have again warned motorists not to engage in panic buying. Fuel supplies are plentiful and the Irish National Petroleum Corporation has more than sufficient stocks at the Whitegate refinery.
The first blockades had moved into position at four Shannon crossings and the Athlone bypass early this morning. Gardai said there were more than 250 trucks massed on bridges at Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim, Lanesborough and Thermonbarry, Co Longford, and Roosky, Co Roscommon. The hauliers were stopping commercial vehicles but allowing private cars to pass.