The country’s largest business lobby has told the Government that ongoing blockades are jeopardising “cornerstones of the Irish economy”, calling on the Coalition to “enforce law and order”.
In a letter sent to Government leaders and Ministers on Thursday, employer’s body Ibec outlined its “gravest concern” regarding fuel protests and the “co-ordinated blocking” of ports, the Whitegate oil refinery and key industrial zones.
Ibec chief executive Danny McCoy wrote that the group supports peaceful protest but said that “the current escalation has moved beyond expression into the territory of significantly damaging economic disruption”.
Outlining the impact on several sectors, he wrote that blockades are “currently jeopardising the operation of several cornerstones of the Irish economy”.
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In pharmaceuticals and biopharma, he said Ireland’s reputation as a “stable hub for life sciences is at risk”, adding that manufacturing processes in the sector “cannot withstand the current level of logistical uncertainty”.
“We are already aware of one site which has ceased production as it cannot guarantee regulatory required health and safety conditions”, with others “substantially disrupted” due to supply chain issues and force absenteeism rates of up to 50 per cent.
“We expect further production to cease in the sector over the coming days unless the protests are removed”.
In construction, McCoy wrote that blockades are already leading to delays on sites, while if prolonged, it could “stall the delivery of vital housing and infrastructure projects”.
“We are aware of imminent risks to essential construction material production which will have wide-ranging impacts for businesses of all sizes right across the housing and construction industry.”
Port blockages are also hitting supply chains for the food industry “particularly hard” with some processing plants facing having to stop production in the next 24-48 hours.
Retail and hospitality is now facing a “dual threat of stock shortages and increased operational overheads” with a number of retail stores reporting “critical supply chain problems and absenteeism challenges”.
Ibec is calling for immediate action, saying the continued obstruction of Whitegate refinery, ports, airports motorways and industrial zones “is a direct threat to our national energy security and the free movement of goods and people”.
McCoy called on the Government to ensure access and to “enforce law and order” by working with the Defence Forces to prevent “the illegal obstruction of major roads and commercial gateways”.
He also wants the Coalition to establish a protocol for the “protected movement of essential goods” to “prevent a total ‘stop-start’ to the economy.”
