Army called in to remove vehicles blocking depots as fuel protests enter third day in Laois

The Irish army has been called in to remove heavy vehicles blocking fuel depots as part of a protest over rising fuel prices which has significantly impacted Portlaoise.

Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan said that large vehicles blocking critical infrastructure would be removed. It comes as protests in Laois are entering their third day.

On Wednesday the protest against high fuel prices continued in Portlaoise along the M7 between Junction 16 and 18 with both lanes blocked.

This has resulted in heavy traffic driving through Portlaoise in both direction which would otherwise have used the motorway.

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Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon said he regarded roads as critical infrastructure but said it was up to the Justice Minister to clarify operational matters.

He said the Government would meet with farming and haulier representative groups but would not meet with protesters blocking cities, fuel depots and the country’s only refinery.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin said it was “not acceptable” to turn Dublin’s main thoroughfare, O’Connell Street, “into a car park” as protesters used tractors to substantially clog up traffic in the centre of the capital.

The Abbeyleix Road in Portlaoise on Tuesday during the fuel price protest. 

Other coalition figures, including Tanaiste and Finance Minister Simon Harris, as well as Mr O’Callaghan, emphasised the importance of access to fuel depots and warned of consequences for unlawful activity.

Fuels for Ireland chief executive Kevin McPartland said there was a risk to supplies to petrol forecourts as a result of fuel depots being blocked.

The cost of petrol, diesel and marked gas oil (“green diesel”) has soared as a result of the war in the Middle East and impacts on supplies out of the Strait of Hormuz.

Just over two weeks ago, Ireland’s ruling coalition signed off on a range of measures to reduce fuel costs, including a temporary excise duty reduction for motor fuels, expansion of the diesel rebate scheme for hauliers and bus operators, and an extension of the fuel allowance.

It saw an effective reduction of 17 cents for petrol, 22 cents for diesel, and five cents for green diesel – but the savings were largely eroded as the war raged on.

Speaking to the Press Association on Wednesday evening, city centre protest spokesman John Dallon said he hoped the dispute could be resolved through the Government committing to meeting him and two other participants.

Mr Dallon said: “These people are not going to lie down.

“The only way they will go off of the streets here is if we send a message back to them that we have a meeting, then there’s a good chance that people will go home.

“But, I mean, if there’s no satisfaction out of the meeting, I’d say it’ll all heat up again.”