Defence Forces asked to help gardaí
Gardaí have submitted a formal request to the Defence Forces, requesting that they assist in removing demonstrators that are blocking infrastructure. However, no members of the Defence Forces have been deployed as yet.
Protests over increased fuel costs have now entered their third day.
Yesterday evening, Wednesday, demonstrators in Cork blockaded the Whitegate oil refinery, and have been preventing trucks from entering the site to collect fuel.
Blockades have also been set up at Foynes in Co. Limerick, and at the Galway Docks.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that the blockading of the Whitegate refinery amounted to “national sabotage”.
In response to demonstrators’ refusal to unblock the refinery, Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan directed An Garda Síochána to formally request assistance from the Defence Forces.
One of the Defence Forces’ roles is aid to civil power. To request assistance, An Garda Síochána must submit a C70 form to the Defence Forces outlining what assistance is required. It did so last night.
However, Defence Forces personnel have not moved into action as yet, but they have confirmed that they received a request for “heavy vehicle recovery”.
Sinn Féin TD for East Cork, Pat Buckley has condemned the move to use defence forces to resolve the situation.
Deputy Buckley said: “The choice that this Government have in this crisis is to sit down with all those affected by the current fuel crisis the stakeholders must be listened to carefully.
“We have been living with a cost-of-living crisis for far too long and workers and families have been suffering and are at breaking point. Irish workers are the bedrock of our country and now the Government is threatening to call in our national defence forces as their immediate response and it’s wrong.”
New garda tactics
Gardaí have also announced that they will be changing tactics going forward.
In a statement, a spokesperson said that “An Garda Síochána is now moving to an enforcement phase in relation to those impacting on critical infrastructure unless they desist and disperse from these blockades”.
They said that the change comes after “significant and prolonged engagement, which has included explaining and encouraging protestors to facilitate free movement of traffic”.
Videos circulating showing two armoured personnel carriers in Limerick this morning were purported to show Defence Forces personnel moving to unblock the fuel depot at Foynes, Co. Limerick.
However, the Defence Forces has confirmed that this was in fact members of the 128th Infantry Battalion training ahead of deployment to Lebanon as part of the United Nations peacekeeping operation there.
‘Imminent threats to critical supply’
Business representative organisation Ibec has said that ongoing protests are causing an imminent threat to critical supply, and have urged an immediate de-escalation.
Director of Lobbying and Influence Fergal O’Brien said that the disruptions will have “immediate knock-costs and disruption for the agriculture and construction sectors.
“Coupled with wider costs across the economy to the retail and hospitality sectors, it will lead to significant economic costs which will ultimately undermine the State’s revenue base and Government’s ability to support those most impacted by the global energy crisis,” he said.