{"id":386114,"date":"2026-04-07T09:45:07","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T09:45:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/386114\/"},"modified":"2026-04-07T09:45:07","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T09:45:07","slug":"fuel-protests-cause-traffic-disruption-across-ireland-the-irish-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/386114\/","title":{"rendered":"Fuel protests cause traffic disruption across Ireland \u2013 The Irish Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

Main PointsA national fuel protest is taking place today over spiralling diesel, petrol and home heating oil<\/a> prices caused by the ongoing war in the Middle East<\/a> Convoys have set off from sites across the country before merging into a single convoy as they approach Dublin<\/a>Motorists have been warned the protest may bring commuting routes into Dublin<\/a> and other major roads around the country to a standstillThe Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) said it is \u201cnot involved\u201d, with activists seeking to highlight the tax burden on fuel in a context of spiralling costs<\/p>\n

The government will do \u201cas much as it can for as long as it can\u201d to respond to rising fuel prices, the Minister for Higher Education James Lawless has said. Vivienne Clarke writes.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve cut the price of diesel and petrol at the pumps,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ve extended the winter heating scheme into another four weeks. So we\u2019re doing as much as we can for as long as we can, but one of the things about this war, this situation, is it\u2019s moving so rapidly and it is quite a volatile situation. So the war could ramp up or the war could ramp down.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs Government we have to do something that\u2019s sustainable, that\u2019s costed, that\u2019s repeatable, and the taxpayer ultimately can stand over. So we\u2019re taking it one step at a time. We are engaging with industry, trying to manage people\u2019s expenses, because we know it\u2019s hard, and pump heating in particular is a strain.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll revisit again at the end of the four weeks. But look, I think at the moment it\u2019s one week at a time, and that\u2019s very much the way the war has been playing out as well. It could be all over, or it could be into another escalation.<\/p>\n

The government was looking at short term measures and long term measures, he said. \u201cI think with the long term, we need to look at our energy mix, we just need to really drive it home. The longer that we\u2019re importing fossil fuels from outside the EU, the longer we will continue to be dependent on oil stocks or gas stocks or these kind of surprises in the markets and these kinds of exposures. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to become more sustainable in terms of energy independence, renewables, other fuels, other sources beyond fossil fuels, and have a wider energy mix.\u201d<\/p>\n

Research was ongoing for \u201cthe optimal energy mix\u201d including hydrogen, nuclear, hydro, he said.<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s scary, the immense pressure we\u2019re under\u2019<\/p>\n

Sonny Boyd, who runs a tow truck business in Co Kildare, and is part of the convoy on the M4, said he could see more than 100 lorries and tractors in his rear view mirror, with more ahead of him and a gathering waiting at Maynooth to join in. Caroline O\u2019Doherty reports.<\/p>\n

He said the protest was necessary because businesses reliant on fuel were on their knees. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t want to do this but we need to highlight what\u2019s happening. It\u2019s scary, the immense pressure we are under,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

\u201cI looked in my bank account this morning and there\u2019s \u20ac109 in it. <\/p>\n

\u201cI spoke to one lad this morning who only set up in business a few years ago and is owed \u20ac25,000 in invoices that he can\u2019t get paid. <\/p>\n

\u201cI know of school bus operators who have told parents they\u2019ll need to pay \u20ac50 a week extra or they can\u2019t run the service. <\/p>\n

\u201cI know of services that have told parents already they\u2019re going to stop.\u201d <\/p>\n

Boyd said the Government should cap fuel prices at \u20ac1.70 and scrap the carbon tax. <\/p>\n

He said there was surprise and disappointment that the Government did not reach out with an offer to prevent the protests and there was a mood among many to repeat the action weekly until they did. <\/p>\n

Convoys have moved off from around the Midlands and East of the country, Sarah Slater reports.<\/p>\n

At Junction 8 Cashel north and south, long lines of trucks, minibuses and cars groups gathered from before 8am to make their way to Dublin\u2019s M50.<\/p>\n

The Portlaoise fuel protest involving trucks, tractors and vans continues to travel from J17 in a slow-moving convoy back to the same junction.<\/p>\n

On the N81 a protest convoy is currently traveling though Brittas.<\/p>\n

In Athlone protesters are involved in a slow drive from Moate to the town with hauliers, farmers, bus companies, taxis and the general public.<\/p>\n

As of yet there are no delays on the M4 which is the primary route from Sligo to Dublin connecting from the M50 at Junction 5 north-westwards.<\/p>\n

Drop in footfall, drop in goodwill<\/p>\n

The chief executive of the business organisation Dublin Town has warned that today\u2019s fuel price protests will cost goodwill, Vivienne Clarke reports.<\/p>\n

Richard Guiney told Newstalk\u2019s Claire Byrne show that while he had sympathy for everybody in the current circumstances, businesses were also facing large energy price increases.<\/p>\n

The experience from previous similar protests was that the city continued to function, but that the protestors lost the goodwill of people who could have been their allies.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not sure that they\u2019re going to get what they want out of this kind of protest. And, you know, in terms of the general public, a lot of people will just work from home during the protests.\u201d<\/p>\n

Guiney anticipated there would be a decrease in footfall in the city centre today \u201cprobably in the region of about ten per cent. That\u2019s what the experience was before.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut, you know, those businesses, particularly in the retail side of the house, are already, with all the other options that are out there, online shopping, etc, are feeling a fair amount of stress.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously, we all need a strong economy, that\u2019s what we need to work together towards.\u201d<\/p>\n

Message from the Editor<\/p>\n

\"Irish<\/p>\n

Thanks for reading. If you\u2019re interested in Irish politics, becoming an Irish Times subscriber can give you access to all of our coverage, including exclusive news stories, in-depth analysis and thought-provoking commentary. Receive our politics newsletter in your inbox every morning, early tickets to Inside Politics podcast live events and full access to the best writing about the people and policies that shape modern Ireland.<\/p>\n

At The Irish Times, our journalism is free of any personal, political or commercial control. Unlike most publishers, we have no shareholders to satisfy, no media baron owner in the background telling us what we can and cannot publish.<\/p>\n

We are owned by a Trust that mandates us to uphold a set of public-interest values. Those values describe a worldview that is outward-looking, tolerant, curious, interested in divergent views and attentive to the needs of minorities. Our watchwords are fairness and accuracy. Our goal is to enable you to make informed and independent judgments. And any profit we make goes towards supporting our journalism. <\/p>\n

Ruadh\u00e1n Mac Cormaic<\/p>\n

Editor <\/p>\n

[\u00a0To join Ireland’s biggest community of news subscribers, sign up hereOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

Worst fuel crisis<\/p>\n

Further to the global context point: The current oil \u200cand gas crisis triggered by the blockade of the \u200cStrait of Hormuz is \u201cmore serious than the ones in 1973, \u200b1979 and 2002 together\u201d, Fatih Birol, the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA), told Le Figaro newspaper.<\/p>\n

More on that, and the war in Iran in general, in our other live story<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Convoys move off<\/p>\n

Per Caroline O\u2019Doherty: Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the national motorways agency, is reporting \u201cslow-moving convoys\u201d on the M8 near Urlingford, Co Kilkenny; on the M3 at the approach to Navan, Co Meath; and on several locations on the M7 including Limerick city and the approach to Junction 13 at Kildare Village. <\/p>\n

Vehicles gather<\/p>\n

Images and video shared on social media show vehicles gathering at various locations around the country in preparation for this morning\u2019s protests, Climate and Science Correspondent Caroline O\u2019Doherty reports.<\/p>\n

Tractors and trucks are shown gathering outside Portlaoise, Co Westmeath; Monasterevin, Co Kildare; and Rathcoole and Lusk, Co Dublin, with the intention of travelling in convoy on the M7 and M1. <\/p>\n

Other images show a convoy on the M6 from Galway and a gathering at Castlebar, Co Mayo. The size of the gatherings is not currently verifiable. <\/p>\n

\u2018How do I remain in business today?\u2019<\/p>\n

More from affected sectors on this morning\u2019s radio shows. Vivienne Clarke reports: Ger Hyland, the president of the Irish Road Haulage Association has said he does not know who is organising today\u2019s fuel price protests. Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast with Anton Savage, Hyland declined to say whether he supported the protests. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe empathise with them, we can see where they\u2019re coming from,\u201d he said. \u201cOur position on this is that we are still at the table with Government. We had a meeting with Government last Friday, we\u2019re meeting with them again this week.\u201d<\/p>\n

As an association the IRHA was not involved with the protest, he said, but it was up to every member to make their own decision. \u201cWe have members who are probably involved in this today.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re involved in it because they can\u2019t afford to fuel their trucks. It\u2019s up to every individual haulier himself to do as he sees fit for his company\u201d<\/p>\n

Later on the same programme, Kevin McPartland, chief executive of Fuels for Ireland, said the crux of the issue was excise duty. The exchequer was \u201cnot as far behind as they\u2019re letting on. They\u2019ve let everybody off 20 cents a litre, but actually they\u2019re collecting 16 of that back in VAT. So I have a lot of sympathy with the protesters today.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need an expert group to have a comprehensive review of all of the taxation and compliance costs of fuel.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I was a haulier, if I was an agricultural contractor, I would be saying: \u2018yeah, but how do I remain in business today?\u2019 I do think we need targeted responses for those particular sectors.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018Not involved\u2019<\/p>\n

A number of representative groups have said they themselves are not involved in organising the protests.<\/p>\n

The president of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, Denis Drennan, said the association would not be participating in any kind of official basis, but he had \u201cno doubt\u201d individual farmer members would be taking part or supporting the protest.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is not a matter of choice for farmers and between the surge in fuel, energy and fertiliser, we are fast coming up on the point where just getting up in the morning to work and produce food will be prohibitively expensive and farmers will just have to stop,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The Irish Road Haulage Association said it was \u201cnot involved\u201d in the protests, but added: \u201cWe understand that each member needs to do what they feel is right for their business.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Coach Tourism and Transport Council said the sector was facing serious cost pressures but that its focus was on engagement with Government. It asked protesters to keep bus lanes clear.<\/p>\n

Fuel issues around the world<\/p>\n

World news is full of stories about fuel prices this morning as the Iran war continues, with oil and gas infrastructure in the Gulf under threat and shipments through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz halted.<\/p>\n

About 18 per cent of French \u200cpetrol stations were lacking some kind \u200bof fuel on Tuesday morning, junior energy minister \u200bMaud Bregeon said, after one brand set prices lower than elsewhere, leading to supply issues.<\/p>\n

Two tankers full of Qatari liquefied natural gas tried to exit the Gulf on Monday only to U-turn within hours after being denied clearance by Iranian officials, Bloomberg reported.<\/p>\n

There were also reports of Taiwan switching back to coal, Pakistanis seeking electric motorbikes, high inflation in the Philippines, and an Indian plan to buy more Venezuelan crude. <\/p>\n

Ireland is not alone in dealing with rising prices.<\/p>\n

Some reports of congestion already on approaches to Dublin, although that is not a rarity on an ordinary day. Should large convoys develop, we wouldn\u2019t expect to see their main impact for a little while yet.<\/p>\n

Garda updates<\/p>\n

Garda\u00ed said on Monday evening they were aware of the planned protests and said they could produce significant additional traffic in places from 8am. Here\u2019s the full statement:<\/p>\n

\u201cAn Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na is aware of proposals for vehicle gatherings, and associated public activity, at various locations around the country from early tomorrow morning Tuesday, 7th April 2026.<\/p>\n

\u201cAn Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na understands it is proposed that convoys of vehicles (including HGVs, agricultural and plant vehicles) will gather at various locations across the country. It is understood that the proposed convoys, potentially slow moving, will travel primarily along national primary routes.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is proposed that some of these convoys will remain in regional locations, and some will travel to Dublin to congregate in the Dublin region. <\/p>\n

\u201cIf the convoys materialise and congregate, it is expected that there will be significant additional traffic, including slow-moving vehicles, on the main arteries leading to Dublin and in the vicinity of large urban areas across the country from 0800hrs. <\/p>\n

\u201cAn Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has had limited interaction with some persons involved in publishing information about these convoys. As the majority of the organisation of these convoys is taking place on social media platforms and messaging apps, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na is not in a position to provide accurate or detailed advice to the general public at this time.<\/p>\n

\u201cMembers of the public travelling on National Primary Routes … 7th April 2026 are advised to plan their journeys by ensuring they leave additional time for possible traffic disruptions and to expect traffic delays, if congestion is caused as a result of these convoys.<\/p>\n

\u201cAn Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na will provide updates, where possible by the Garda Press Office, if appropriate and required, via:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Press releases<\/p>\n

\u2022 Garda social media channels<\/p>\n

\u201cAn Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na respects the right of citizens to exercise their constitutional rights, subject to statutory provisions.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na facilitates peaceful protest, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na must also balance and protect the rights of individuals to travel freely and commercial organisations to conduct business.<\/p>\n

\u201cAny Garda activity in relation to evolving events involves a graduated policing response taking into account relevant legislation and public safety.\u201d<\/p>\n

Day of disruption<\/p>\n

A day of disruption is expected in the capital and other places across the country as a national fuel protest unfolds.<\/p>\n

Protesters were expected to assemble from 7am at various motorway services across the country before taking off towards Dublin. Many major commuter routes to the capital are expected to be affected, including the M50, the M1 and other roads.<\/p>\n

Rolling protests will also begin outside Cork, Limerick and Galway.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Main PointsA national fuel protest is taking place today over spiralling diesel, petrol and home heating oil prices…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":356829,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[171749,61,60,43],"class_list":{"0":"post-386114","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-ireland","8":"tag-fuel-protests","9":"tag-ie","10":"tag-ireland","11":"tag-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/386114","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=386114"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/386114\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/356829"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=386114"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=386114"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=386114"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}