The Taoiseach has declared that fuel protesters blocking cities and towns across Ireland are “wrong”, warning that those breaking the law will face consequences, reports Breaking News.
Micheál Martin, Simon Harris and Seán Canney addressed the media outside Government Buildings on Wednesday morning, condemning the actions of those participating in the demonstrations, reports Breaking News.
Towns and cities throughout Ireland have been experiencing significant traffic and travel disruption since Tuesday morning, when slow-moving convoys of tractors, trucks and lorries began their protests.
Martin said: “The protests at the moment are wrong, reports Breaking News.
“To prevent mobility, to prevent people from accessing livelihoods, medical appointments, disrupting day-to-day activities in the manner that has happened, is wrong and is a wrong form of protest.”
Asked whether the gardaí would move to clear protesters from roads and fuel depots, the Taoiseach said: “There’s no justification whatsoever for blockading fuel depots, reports Breaking News.
“It runs counter to what everybody wants, which is access to fuel on a timely basis.”
He stated that while he respected the right to protest, it was “not acceptable” to turn Dublin’s O’Connell Street “into a car park”, reports Breaking News.
“There should be penalties and there will be penalties” for anyone who violates the law, he said.
The Tánaiste said the Government is engaging with national representative bodies and described the disruption caused by the protests as: “Not in our national interest, it’s not in our economic interest, it’s not in the interest of social cohesion,” reports Breaking News.
When asked whether the Government would meet directly with the groups involved in the protests, Martin responded that there are “many, many different groups and many different voices” involved, and that “the only feasible way to engage is with the national representative bodies of the different sectors, and that’s what we’re going to do.”
Asked whether fuel pumps could run dry if depots continued to be blockaded, Canney, Minister of State at the Department of Transport, described such a scenario as “a ransom,” reports Breaking News.
He said: “I think people need to understand that what’s happening here is not in the national interest, it’s not in the people’s interest and we need to just reflect on that.”
Harris acknowledged that “there may be a small number of particular challenges this morning” but sought to “reassure motorists and reassure people in our country that there is adequate fuel supply in Ireland,” reports Breaking News.
Earlier on Wednesday morning, Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers said: “I think some of the protests we’ve seen today are completely unacceptable and irresponsible.
“They’re undermining business in our city and across the country,” reports Breaking News.
Responding to reports that demonstrators had blocked a fuel terminal, he described the action as “reckless in the extreme, and they should stand down their protest,” reports Breaking News.
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