Taoiseach Micheál Martin has insisted that the Government will not meet any of the fuel protesters and will only engage with nationally constituted groups.
He warned that anyone blocking streets or fuel terminals will face punishment and that gardaí will move people on.
Fuel depots will have to be cleared. There is no justification whatsoever for blockading fuel depots, Mr Martin said.
It runs counter to what everybody wants, which is access to fuel on a timely basis. There is always a balance when there is a protest. We are in a democracy. We respect people’s right to protest. There is always a balance, initially, in terms of how that is policed.
But what is not acceptable is people declaring that they will turn O’Connell Street into a car park. That is not acceptable. There are people with businesses on O’Connell Street who need to survive, who need footfall, who need people to be able to access those businesses. That is not acceptable.
Anybody who simply parks a truck in the middle of nowhere should face penalties, and there will be penalties in terms of any violations of the various laws that apply.
In his view, and in the Government’s view, it is unacceptable that motorways would be blocked, or that main arteries of the country would be blocked, particularly when the Government has engaged in negotiations with the nationally properly constituted representative organisations. The Government cannot operate on any other basis.
Junior transport minister Seán Canney said the Government is concerned about the blockage of fuel terminals. He added that people need to stand back, reflect on their actions, and think about the common good.
He continued: What is the purpose of doing this? It is a ransom.
People need to understand that what is happening here is not in the national interest. It is not in the people’s interest. We need to reflect on that.
Agriculture minister Martin Heydon condemned the protests and warned that animal welfare issues were emerging, including an inability to transport feed ingredients to feed mills and merchants.
Further to the above, he has received reports that milk is not being collected from some dairy farmers, denying them a means to make their living.
The Government is managing this issue in real time and is currently spending €4 million a day in supporting all sectors of society.
He and his officials have already met with farm bodies, IBEC and the farm contractors. He has also supported the establishment of a new national farm contractors’ group.
He is meeting all agri stakeholders this Friday.
Bord Bia is providing logistical support and helping exporters identify alternative routes to market, with the Department of Agriculture facilitating certification to enable the rerouting of exports.
Engagement with financial institutions is also ongoing to ensure access to short-term finance and overdraft facilities and appropriate flexibility where cashflow pressures arise.
Tánaiste Simon Harris said there is enough fuel in the country. While there may be a small number of particular challenges this morning, those will have to be dealt with by the laws of the land and applied without fear or favour.
Minister for Rural Transport and Cork TD Jerry Buttimer said people have a democratic right to protest, but the Government is engaging with representative associations. It is incumbent on all sides to sit down together and talk.
The Government is considering further interventions to help struggling sectors.
But the geopolitical situation is in such a state of flux that the Government must consider the ongoing war and the international situation before introducing any further supports.
He does not know that the protest is serving the people that are protesting.
We recognise and understand fully the situation they are in and we have already taken action.
However, Mr Buttimer said the blockading of fuel depots is not acceptable.
We understand the frustration and the annoyance and the pain that everyone is going through, but to do that is depriving people who require fuel of having that supply made available to them.
And that does not serve the purpose of what the protesters are trying to achieve. He fundamentally respects the rights of all people to protest. But there are certain limits in terms of blocking a fuel depot.
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