Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said blocking people is “not the way”, after a fuel protester in a high-vis jacket confronted him on his way to a public event in Cork on Thursday.
Mr Martin was entering the newly refurbished Coláiste Íosagáin in Baile Bhuirne when Gerard Murphy, a farmer and contractor from Bandon, attempted to block his way.
Mr Martin did not engage, but moved past Mr Murphy to enter the new co-working facility, at which point the protester accused the Taoiseach of “walking away from the Irish people”.
A garda detective then prevented Mr Murphy from entering the building.
Afterwards, Mr Murphy told The Echo he hadn’t slept in three days.
“I’m a contractor, a farmer and a truck driver, we’re involved in everything, and all our businesses are on their knees,” he said.
“I don’t want to be here today. I have fields to plough, I have cows to feed.
“We’re at wit’s end, you can hear it in my voice, we are at the point of breaking.”
Speaking to media later, Mr Martin said that throughout his life as a politician, he routinely engaged with people under pressure every day, as did other representatives.
“We always try to alleviate pressures, but blocking people is not the way to do it. Every citizen is entitled to move about freely in our country,” the Taoiseach said.
“What has happened over the last number of days is that that essential freedom to move has been hindered, has been denied, to many, many people.
“We have had countless anecdotes now of other people out there who are under a lot of pressure because they cannot make medical appointments, sick people, (and) people who have been delayed going to work.”
Mr Martin said the Government had been contacted by companies saying they were struggling as they could not import raw materials.
“This morning, I was contacted by co-ops in West Cork saying they had run out of pig feed because of the blockade in Ringaskiddy. That is not normal protesting,” he said.
“It is not satisfactory; it is not on. There are better ways and other ways to do it.”
The Taoiseach said blockades of ports, fuel depots, and of the Whitegate refinery should not happen as they were hurting ordinary people, and he called on protesters to engage with Government.
“We believe in engagement, we believe in dialogue,” he said.
“There are avenues and pathways to resolve this, at least to engage on this in a sensible way. I cannot for the life of me understand why the ordinary people of the country would be denied access to fuel.
“I think it is extraordinary that the war in the Middle East did not endanger our supplies to date and it is by the actions of the protesters that supplies have now been temporarily denied and endangered,” Mr Martin said.
“That makes no sense and is damaging the Irish people and the Irish economy.”