Gardaí have signalled growing frustration with the organisers of fuel cost demonstrations as the protests continued into a third day on Thursday.
Deputy Commissioner for Policing Operations, Shawna Coxon, said authorities no longer consider the events to be “protests” but instead view them as “blockades”, reports The Mirror.
“Over the last two days, An Garda Síochána has engaged extensively with those taking part in fuel protests across the country to facilitate peaceful protest while protecting public safety.
“In line with our tradition of policing by consent, An Garda Síochána has been operating on the basis of the 4Es – Engage, Explain, Encourage and Enforce.
“Yesterday, we advised protestors that they were severely impacting on the lives of people, particularly emergency workers, those who need to attend hospital, and workers,” reports The Mirror.
Deputy Commissioner Shawna Coxon further stated that despite ongoing engagement efforts, the situation has escalated.
“Despite our significant and prolonged engagement, which has included explaining and encouraging protestors to facilitate free movement of traffic, it is clear that some people have significantly escalated an already difficult situation by targeting critical infrastructure such as fuel depots and refineries.
“These are no longer protests, they are blockades.
“These blockades are putting at risk supplies of food, fuel, clean water and animal feed. These are critical for the nation and its people.
“This is not tolerable and is against the law,” reports The Mirror.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD, along with Health Service Executive CEO Anne O’Connor, issued a joint statement urging that access routes to medical facilities remain unobstructed for emergency services and patients.
“Attending hospital or receiving treatment in the community, whether in an emergency situation or for a routine appointment, is a vulnerable time for a patient and their family. Please respect the critical need for clear and safe access to all healthcare services, to ensure that access to care is never compromised,” they said in a joint statement on Thursday afternoon, reports The Mirror.
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