There were “certainly learning” from the policing of fuel protests, the Tánaiste said, adding that security during the EU presidency will be “taken extremely seriously”.
The April protests – including blockades of Ireland’s only oil refinery and other key depots – strangled fuel distribution across the country and prompted an escalated policing response that resulted in several arrests amid clashes between public order units and protesters.
The Government announced hundreds of millions of euro in supports for industries severely affected by fuel prices, including cuts in excise duty on petrol, diesel and marked gas oil to the end of July.
It has been reported that participants – largely led by hauliers, farmers and agricultural workers – are considering further action to coincide with the ending of those supports.
It would threaten disruption during Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union which will see the country host hundreds of EU meetings as well as visits by State leaders starting from next week.
Asked if he was concerned about fuel protests during the presidency, Tánaiste Simon Harris told reporters before Cabinet on Tuesday that there was a difference between protesting and blockading critical infrastructure.
“A protest is a protest, and protest is a perfectly legitimate thing in any democracy, and I’m never concerned around protest.”
He added: “But lawlessness is not part of our democracy. This is a country of rules and laws and they will be enforced without fear or favour.”
Asked if there were better plans in place for the presidency, Harris said: “There’s certainly learning from that last time – there’s no doubt about that.”
He added: “I think those learning are that people have the right to protest but they don’t have the right to blockade critical infrastructure.
“We came extraordinarily close to having a very damaging situation in relation to our energy and in relation to fuel and indeed we saw that – fuel running out at certain petrol stations, people deciding who could access a hospital appointment or not.
“That’s not how a democracy functions, that won’t be tolerated.”
Harris said security in the country – particularly during the presidency of the Council of the European Union – will be “taken extremely seriously”. – PA
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