Peaceful lifting of Laois M7 fuel protest in Portlaoise in train following talks with local gardaí

A phased and peaceful reopening of the M7 motorway in Portlaoise, agreed by Laois fuel price protestors following talks with local gardaí, was expected to see the major Dublin, Limerick, Cork route reopen for traffic on Sunday evening after days of closure.

It is understood that the agreement involved a sequence of measures which was expected to take around two hours to complete, beginning at around 4 pm on Sunday, April 12.

Laois Gardaí expected the first step would be the removal of the vehicles parked on the motorway near the J17 roundabout at Togher on the Abbeyleix Road on the N77 on Portlaoise's outskirts.

An immediate opening was not possible as the motorway management company had to take other measures to allow motorists to access and drive on the M7 safely.

The final step in concluding the protest was expected to be the departure of the protestors from the large J17 roundabout, where several buses, trucks, tractors and plant machinery had been parked since the protest began on Tuesday, April 7.

Barry Cuddy was among the protesters in Portlaoise who was apart of the discussions with gardaí. While he confirmed that a process had been agreed upon, he insisted that the protest would not be completely stood down until the outcome of talks between the Government and hauliers is confirmed to them.

The reopening is expected to phased lifting of the protest around the country. The removal of blockades has required the deployment of the Garda Public Order Unit and the army to clear protestors and vehicles. 

Earlier in the day, a group of protestors marched from Portlaoise town centre to the blockade site.

In his first public statement on the protests, Laois Government TD Willie Aird warned of the growing strain on farmers, contractors, hauliers, commuters and frontline staff.

“As someone who farms actively, I am acutely aware of the day-to-day pressures created by escalating fuel prices,” he said on Saturday.

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“In recent weeks I have spoken with commuters, farmers, healthcare workers, hauliers, couriers and agricultural contractors, all of whom have seen substantial increases in their operational costs,” said the Fine Gael TD.

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Deputy Aird said he raised the issue in the Dáil on 5 April and said he has since met with protestors in Portlaoise to hear their concerns directly. He said these views have been relayed to Government colleagues.