The HSE has called for all approaches to medical facilities around the State to be kept clear for users, especially vulnerable patients, to access treatment.
CEO of the HSE, Anne O’Connor, and Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, said that emergency service access must be open for patients attending medical appointments and to ensure staff, including those who work in hospitals and those treating people in their homes or in community settings, can get to work and treat their patients.
They said that 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.
They have asked people to respect the critical need for clear and safe access to all healthcare services, to ensure that access to care is never compromised.
Fuel protests gone ‘far beyond the pale’, says Taoiseach
The Taoiseach has said the ongoing protests over rising fuel costs have gone “far beyond the pale” and that the blocking of roads and infrastructure is “not a fair form of protest”.
There is further disruption on Ireland’s road networks for a third day and gardaà have requested the assistance of the Defence Forces to remove vehicles blocking critical infrastructure.
The move was confirmed in a statement from Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan, who said the blocking of such infrastructure will not be permitted to continue.
Under law, gardaà can request the assistance of the Defence Forces as an aid to the civil power, and that C70 request was issued overnight.
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Minister O’Callaghan said large vehicles blocking infrastructure, such as the Whitegate refinery in Co Cork, will be removed.
Owners of the vehicles are being requested to move them immediately, as they are denying people access to fuel, which was described in the statement as an “unacceptable interference”.
The statement adds that owners “should not complain” about any damage caused to vehicles during removal by gardaà and the Defence Forces.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with David McCullagh, the Taoiseach said: “We don’t want to be denying that right or the opportunity for people to articulate their position.
“But these type of protests have gone far beyond the pale now, in terms of the undermining of citizens’ rights to access the fundamentals of life itself.”
Micheál Martin added: “We have main arteries blocked and we have the essentials of the economy being stopped and paralysed. That’s not fair to the people of Ireland. That’s not a fair form of protest.”
The Taoiseach said once the Whitegate fuel depot and the Foynes fuel terminal were blocked ‘the Government had to act’
He said the protests at Foynes in Co Limerick means that essential supplies for Uisce Éireann plants around the country are being blocked.
This afternoon, an agreement was reached with protesters outside the Foynes fuel depot to allow a truck carrying chemicals for the treatment of drinking water to pass the blockade.
The truck which has been stuck behind the blockade since Monday night, left Foynes and is on the way to Antrim.
Driver Jackie Lynn said he normally collects chemicals from Foynes three times a week. He welcomed the decision to allow him leave and said he supported the protesters.
Uisce Éireann has said there are no current interruptions to customer supplies due to the blockade at ports.
In a statement, it said it is working with all stakeholders to ensure the distribution of essential chemicals is not interrupted.
The Taoiseach said the Government is “negotiating with a whole range of groups. Citizens can always find avenues to engage with Government. But not by blockading city centres or motorways or denying people access to fuel or water”.
He called on those involved to call off their protests, saying, “there are channels through our parliamentary democracy and through the national organisations to feed their proposals in there, to get constructive engagement going on that front”.
“They are injuring the Irish people, they are damaging our economy significantly. There is no need for it.
“It is way, way disproportionate to the issue, the issue is a very serious one but there are mechanisms to resolve that,” he added.
Govt should ‘pick up the phone’ to protesters – Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said she thinks “it is wrong” for the Government to “take action to escalate” the fuel depot protests and blockades.
However, she did not directly respond to two questions on whether the Government was correct to send in the Defence Forces or if she agreed entirely with the actions of protesters.
Speaking during a neutrality policy launch in Dublin, Ms McDonald said Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris should “pick up the phone” to protesters.
Asked who specifically they should speak with to de-escalate the situation, the Sinn Féin leader said: “I think they know well who.”
“The ball is now in the court of Government,” she said, adding that “rather than escalate, they need to lift the phone and hear what they need to say”.
Asked specifically what she would say to the protesters, Ms McDonald said she does not want to see “disruption” in the city or people “sleeping in tractors” on O’Connell Street, adding “people should engage respectfully”.
Green Party calls on protesters to remove blockades
Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman said protesters are holding people to ransom.
“People need to be able to travel and access basic services like fuel. The right to protest is not a right to hold people to ransom. Those leading the protests should look at the impact of their actions on people.”
“It’s the right thing to do”, to provide gardaà with extra support in keeping roads and basic services open if its needed, he said.
The Green Party TD also called for further energy supports to be provided to people struggling with energy costs because of the conflict in the Middle East.
‘Deeply concerning’ that Govt is calling in army – Independent Ireland
Independent Ireland has said it is “deeply concerning” that the Government is calling in the Defence Forces rather than picking up the phone to engage.
In a statement, the party said the Government has refused to listen and to meaningfully engage with thousands of businesses impacted “by their tax policies”.
The party said the Government’s approach has escalated the situation but there is still scope for mediation.
Independent Ireland called for calm on all sides and for “immediate meaningful engagement to resolve the situation before it escalates”.
The protests, which began on Tuesday, have involved slow-moving convoys on motorways as well as the blocking of major roads in Dublin and other cities.
Those taking part included hauliers and agricultural contractors using large trucks and tractors to disrupt traffic.
One of those protesting is John Dallon, a farmer from Kildare, who said the protest will not be called off.
He is one of four people put forward to the Tánaiste’s office by Fine Gael Senator Paraic Brady to speak to the Government on behalf of protesters.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Mr Dallon accused the Government of “holding the country to ransom” and said people have the right to peaceful protest.
“This protest does not just involve people that’s in business, this involves nurses, doctors, everybody going to work that has to put diesel and petrol into their cars and buy food to put on the table, pay mortgages – this is all about the people of the island of Ireland that put that Government in power,” he said.
There is widespread disruption in Dublin due to the ongoing protes
Mr Dallon said he did not speak for all protestors and could not help the situation from escalating.
“We want a cap on the green diesel of 90c plus VAT, we want a cap on the white diesel between €1.60-€1.70 at the most, plus vat.
“And we want the petrol capped as well… and the kerosene.”
Mr Dallon said the protest will continue until the Tánaiste and Taoiseach “respect the people of Ireland” and “allow the representatives of the people of Ireland that were put forward as a voice for them in the meetings”.
Disruption to public transport in Dublin
Dublin Bus has advised customers that a number of road closures will remain in place across the capital as a result of protests and that delays and disruptions are being experienced across the city.
“We wish to advise customers that due to fuel price protests, we are experiencing ongoing severe disruptions and delays across the Dublin Bus network,” Dublin Bus said in a statement.
Green line Luas trams are not operating between St Stephen’s Green and Dominick due to the protest blocking the tracks at O’Connell Bridge.
Several tractors remain parked along Dublin’s O’Connell Street.
#DBSvcUpdate Road closures remain in place this morning as a result of a protest. We are experiencing service disruptions across the Dublin Bus network, please allow additional travel time. More details here:https://t.co/iybbl02cun
— dublinbusnews (@dublinbusnews) April 9, 2026
Green Line passengers, please be advised Green Line services are currently not operating between St. Stephen’s Green and Dominick. Services are operating between Broombridge and Dominick and between St. Stephen’s Green and Brides Glen only. This is due to a protest at O’Connell…
— Luas (@Luas) April 9, 2026
Protesters say they want to meet with the Government, but senior ministers say they will, and have, met with national representative bodies.
Over 100 farmers and contractors gathered at the docks in Galway city overnight
Protestors have said they will continue their action until their demand is met for a price cap on both agricultural and white diesel.
The Taoiseach said there is “no clear central focus” in terms of the coordination of the protest.
“This evolved in a very wildcat manner, there is no one clear central focus … in terms of one group. We heard one spokesperson on O’Connell Street this morning saying he had no act or part in what was happening in Foynes or Whitegate.”
He said the Irish Road Haulage Association made good suggestions during a meeting with Government officials yesterday.
‘Best way to resolve this issue is through dialogue’ – IRHA
In a statement this afternoon the Irish Road Haulage Association said it will continue to engage with the Government on a daily basis to achieve further supports for its members in the haulage sector.
“We are currently in negotiations with Government for more supports for our industry following crippling fuel price increases.
“We reiterate that we will not be taking part in any protest actions whilst we are negotiating in good faith with Government – contrary to reports on social media.
“The Irish Road Haulage Association believes that the best way to resolve this issue is through dialogue and we will continue ongoing discussions with the Government to bring about further supports for our members.”