More delays on Laois roads in coming days as fuel protest set to continue

A local haulage operator from Laois has warned that the nationwide fuel protests will continue until the Government reduces taxes on fuels.

The M7 Motorway came to a standstill between Junction 16 and Junction 17 in Portlaoise on Tuesday morning, April 7, as tractors, trucks and cars blocked up the road in protest of the soaring fuel costs.

One of the spokespeople for the protest in Laois, Barry Cuddy of Camross Transport, told the Leinster Express / Laois Live that the convoy will continue to block the roads until 7pm on Tuesday evening and they will resume the protest on Wednesday morning. 

Mr Cuddy explained that his company were forced to pay an extra €12,100 on fuel last month alone for their lorries. 

"We can't sustain that. We have four lads working for us and they have mortgages and if I can't stay going they will lose their jobs," he said.

READ NEXT: WATCH: Motorway mayhem in Laois as trucks stop the M7 outside Portlaoise

The haulier and member of the Irish Road Haulage Association said that "dialogue has gone out the window" with the Government and the situation has "gone too far."

The spokesperson said that the Government must do something for ordinary working people and small businesses that have been hit by the enormous fuel costs.

"We have a government that is doing absolutely nothing for the working people," he said.

Until the Government steps in, the protesters plan on continuing to block roadways across the country with another planned for Wednesday, April 8.

"Today is the start of it. We are here for today, tomorrow and the next day. We're here for as long as this Government has to actually pick up a phone, make a phone call, and make a plan," Mr Cuddy said.