Main PointsSome 650 fuel stations remained without petrol or diesel on Monday, Fuels For Ireland chief Kevin McPartlan saidThe Government faces a motion of confidence in the Dáil on Tuesday amid fallout from the fuel protestsTDs will vote on a €505m package to bring down fuel costs Defence Forces help during the fuel protests became publicKey Reads
Jade Wilson – 16 minutes ago
Green Party deputy leader describes government minister seeking review of press coverage of fuel protests “chilling”
Green Party deputy leader Hazel Chu has criticised the Minister for Communications for seeking a review of press and broadcast coverage of last week’s fuel protests and blockades as “chilling”.
Minister Patrick O’Donovan said on Monday that he will be asking communications watchdog, Coimisiún na Meán, to review media coverage, including coverage from RTÉ.
Speaking on several local radio stations, he said he had received phone calls to his constituency office from members of the public outlining how they were against the blockades but agreed with the protests.
He pointed out that he “never heard the voices” of those who “disagreed” with the blockades.
The Minister outlined that he would be asking Coimisiún na Meán to examine whether media coverage was “balanced” or “skewed”.
Green Party councillor Hazel Chu noted that Sinn Féin once called for RTÉs coverage to be investigated and Fine Gael called it “chilling and Fine Gael TDs came out against it”.
Chu said that by the same logic, “the current Minister stating he’ll be asking Coimisiún na Meán to review the coverage by RTÉ of the recent blockade is also chilling. I hope the same Fine Gael TDs who were scandalised before will also be calling out their own Minister now.”
Jade Wilson – 49 minutes ago
Government poised to face a motion of no confidence over handling of fuel protests
Politicians return to Leinster House today after the Easter break with the Government poised to face down a Sinn Féin motion of no confidence tabled over its handling of the fuel protests and blockades, our political correspondent Cormac McQuinn reports.
In what will be the big political set piece of the Dáil, the Coalition will table its own motion of confidence in itself, which is ultimately what will be voted on this afternoon.
Expect much shouting and roaring about the rights and wrongs of how the Government dealt with the protests – and its fresh €505 million package of fuel supports (on top of the €250 million in measures previously announced) – as the day proceeds.
There is broad support among the Opposition parties for the Sinn Féin motion.
Ultimately, the Coalition should comfortably win the confidence motion when it comes to a vote in the Dáil.
However, it may be worth watching how some Independents who generally support the Government vote.
Some reporting by RTÉ suggests Gillian Toole, Barry Heneghan and Danny Healy-Rae are still making up their minds.
The confidence motion is due to be debated in the Dáil at 2:20pm.
Incidents on M8 and M18 cleared
“Incidents” listed earlier on the map provided by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), on both the M8 and M18, have now cleared, the map shows. It was unclear whether these incidents were linked to the fuel protests.
Go-slow truckers to be arrested if fuel protests continue
Fuel protesters who block roads or engage in go-slows on motorways will be forcibly stopped, detained and their vehicles towed away. The moves have been set out under a pro-arrest strategy to deal with lingering disruption since last weekend.
Garda sources said the protest movement was so fluid and disjointed, with no clear leadership or even central group, that further disruption could occur in any part of the country in the days or weeks to come.
They added any further disruption on the roads would result in go-slow truckers on motorways being stopped for endangerment and arrested. This would be carried out by gardaí in vehicles, backed by members of the Public Order Unit.
Concern radicalised fuel protesters may attack politicians
Garda protection is being stepped up around senior politicians, including Taoiseach Micheál Martin, due to fears they will be targeted amid public anger following fuel protests over the past week.
There are concerns that some of those involved have become radicalised and will seek to publicly confront senior politicians.
Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris, Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan and Minister for Defence Helen McEntee were also outspoken against those involved in blockades. The Garda’s efforts to ensure their safe passage countrywide will involve added security and deeper planning.
Dublin Bus, Luas operating normally, ‘incidents’ on M7, M8 and M18
Dublin Bus and the Luas operator said they are operating full services on Tuesday morning. A map provided by Transport Infrastructure Ireland shows “incidents” on the M7, M8 and M18, but it is unclear whether these are linked to the fuel protests.