Fuel protests cause major disruptions
Cork city and county has seen two days of protests over rising fuel costs, with hauliers, coach drivers, farmers, and other commuters blocking roadways around the county.
The demonstrations are part of a national protest.
Prices for petrol have increased from an average of approximately €1.72 in February to around €2 in some forecourts at the end of March, while diesel rose from €1.73 to as much as €2.30.
Protestors are calling on the Government to institute caps to fuel prices immediately.
The protests have consisted of slow moving convoys of vehicles on major roads, as well as blockages of junctions and roundabouts around the country.
Speaking at a demonstration on Tuesday between Mallow and Blarney, Independent Ireland TD Ken O’Flynn said the protest was about “telling the Government that there is something seriously wrong”.
He said high fuel prices were affecting small businesses, hauliers, farmers, commuters, and “everyone who needs to heat their home”.
Disruptions were reported in Midleton, Macroom, Mallow, Mitchelstown, Blarney, the Kinsale Road and Shannonpark roundabouts, and at the Jack Lynch Tunnel.
Demonstrators then moved into Cork city centre in the evening, and moved through Grand Parade and Washington Street before moving west towards Wilton.
Demonstrations continued into Wednesday. The Macroom bypass was blocked in both directions by trucks and tractors on Wednesday morning, and significant delays were reported by both gardaí and road users.
Gardaí also said demonstrators were causing delays on the M8 at Junction 18 by Glanmire.
Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) reported congestion at the Dunkettle Interchange.
Bus services were also affected, with the 220 to Carrigaline, 226X Kinsale-MTU, and 223 Crookstown-Cork and Cork-Macroom services cancelled.
A convoy came to a standstill at the Shannonpark Roundabout, with video showing motorists driving onto the roundabout island itself to get around the blockade.
Much of the organisation seems to have been carried out via Facebook and WhatsApp groups, but no clear timeline - or plans for escalation - has been presented.
However, support has not been given by some of the organisations representing the industries affected.
David Conway, chair of the Coach Tourism and Transport Council of Ireland said the CTTC “is not involved in the planning or coordination of this protest and we will not be taking part in it”.
“We would ask protestors to keep bus lanes clear so that buses and coaches can move freely around the country and help keep Ireland moving,” he said.
The Irish Road Hauliers Association, Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, and Sheep Farmers Association have also said they are not taking part.
At the end of March, the Government announced cuts to excise tax on fuel in an effort to reduce prices at the pump for consumers. This amounted to a cut of 15 cent on petrol, and 20 cent on diesel.
However, An Tánaiste Simon Harris has rejected calls for specific price controls, and said imposing anything like price caps on fuel would be premature.
Speaking to 'RTÉ News' on Sunday, he said, “at this stage it would be premature, it would be foolish to rule anything further in or out, we have to take this step-by-step”.
Prices have increased considerably since the beginning of the US and Israel’s attacks on Iran, especially since Iran blocked the Straits of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane for oil.
However, global oil prices dropped back below $100 per barrel yesterday, Wednesday, after US President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire, and Iran announced that passage through the Strait would be allowed during that time.