Economy<\/p>\n
Alan Healy: Even if the fuel price protesters go home, the problem won’t<\/p>\n
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“In fact, the report makes clear that prices at Irish forecourts rose by less than the increases observed on global markets,” he added.<\/p>\n
“Ireland is part of a global fuels market – we are a price taker, not a price setter.<\/p>\n
“We recognise the very real pressure this has placed on households and businesses. As acknowledged by the CCPC, there is a level of distress and concern among consumers, and we absolutely recognise that.<\/p>\n
“The cause of high prices is global market conditions, which are outside of the control of Irish fuel retailers.\u201d<\/p>\n
10.04am<\/p>\n
Fuel protesters have added to their demands to lift disruptive demonstrations across the country amid confusion over a crucial government meeting.<\/p>\n
A spokesman for the demonstrators said that protests would continue, but they are letting \u201cmore fuel\u201d out on Friday, as some forecourts risked running dry after days-long blockades of major supply depots.<\/p>\n
The protesters want the Government to commit to further action to combat rising fuel prices triggered by the war in Iran.<\/p>\n
Government leaders have condemned the protests as \u201cwrong\u201d and \u201cnot in our national interest\u201d, and said the fuel blockades were holding the country to \u201cransom\u201d.<\/p>\n
Government ministers have said they cannot engage with disparate groups carrying out protests, and encouraged them to engage with existing representative groups.<\/p>\n
A meeting between several ministers and 10 farming, haulier and business groups is to take place on Friday afternoon.<\/p>\n
Although it is understood there are no fuel protesters on the list of attendees, protesters have suggested they were invited to the \u201cbreakthrough\u201d meeting.<\/p>\n
Fuel protest spokesman James Geoghegan said Fianna F\u00e1il TD for Galway West John Connelly invited them to attend on Friday, and that he, another fuel protester spokesman, John Dallon, and a group of protesters from Galway would attend.<\/p>\n
Connelly rang into Newstalk while on a train to say he had not invited him to the meeting, and that he had advised them to talk to the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA), which is among the groups meeting with government on Friday.<\/p>\n
Geoghegan said that even if a meeting is held, the protest would continue on Friday despite their pledge to call off demonstrations if the government agreed to meet them.<\/p>\n
The protesters had also added to their list of demands: along with the removal of the carbon tax from green diesel and the price of fuel to be capped, they want oil exploration off the west coast of Ireland to begin, and the D\u00e1il to be recalled on Friday.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cWe will be looking for the D\u00e1il to be recalled this evening or tonight. It has to be rubber stamped.\u201d<\/p>\n
9.40am<\/p>\n
A number of new protests are after kicking off on a number of mainline motorways through Co Kildare, according to Sarah Slater.<\/p>\n
The M4 new protest has left Kilcock heading for Dublin, approaching Intel Junction.<\/p>\n
The M7 new protest has left Junction 9a Millennium Naas heading for Dublin, a queue rapidly building with this one approaching Johnstown Junction 8.<\/p>\n
The M9 new protest is at a crawl northbound after Castledermot, approaching Athy Junction, while the N81 is also suffering tailbacks after Blessington heading for Tallaght.<\/p>\n
9.22am<\/p>\n
Director of Services with Waterford City and County Council for Roads Gabriel Hynes confirmed that the council is already feeling the effects of the fuel crisis, Sarah Slater reports.<\/p>\n
He said the local authority currently has between a week and ten days of fuel supply available, with demand at its highest due to peak roadworks season.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn relation to fuel\u2026 we roughly have a week, maybe 10 days supply,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re at the peak of our roadworks programme, so demand at this time of the year is at its peak as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hynes also revealed that fuel prices have increased by around 30 per cent since January, significantly affecting operational costs.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have 250 vehicles approximately operating, so we have a significant fuel demand,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
9am<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for protesters at Foynes Port in Co Limerick has said they would open the port today for feed and for five loads of fuel for frontline workers and hospitals.<\/p>\n
Speaking on RT\u00c9\u2019s Morning Ireland, Neilus O\u2019Connor said protesters had let chemicals needed by Uisce \u00c9ireann through their blockade on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Asked if the protest would end if they had a meeting with Government, he said: \u201cWe will wait until we see the results of that meeting, and then we\u2019ll decide where we go from there.\u201d<\/p>\n
8.44am<\/p>\n
Representatives of fuel protesters said they will join a meeting of farmers\u2019 groups with government on Friday afternoon.<\/p>\n
Despite the protesters saying the demonstrations would be lifted once government met with them, spokesman James Geoghegan said they would continue.<\/p>\n
Geoghegan said they want the carbon tax on green diesel to be removed and the price of fuel to be capped.<\/p>\n
He said Fianna F\u00e1il TD for Galway West John Connelly invited them to attend Leinster House on Friday, and that he, spokesman John Dallon and a group of protesters from Galway would attend.<\/p>\n
Connelly said he had not invited him to the meeting and that he instead had advised them to talk to the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA), which is attending the meeting with government on Friday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not over yet for the simple reason we don\u2019t trust the government at this stage,\u201d Geoghegan said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had several meetings yesterday, we had several meetings during the night, we had several meetings this morning \u2013 I got, I think, two hours sleep last night \u2013 and the word coming back from the ground is after the way Miche\u00e1l Martin disrespected everyone, he is not to be trusted ever again.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have actually reduced the protest, we are allowing out more fuel today, we have lifted some of the blockades off the ports.\u201d<\/p>\n
8.22am<\/p>\n
Garda\u00ed have said that \u201ccritical deliveries\u201d left Rosslare Europort overnight after \u201cpositive and constructive engagement with local protestors\u201d during the fuel demonstrations.<\/p>\n
An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na posted on social media showing a number of trucks and lorries being escorted from the port by a Garda car.<\/p>\n
(1\/2) An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has and continues to engage extensively with those taking part in fuel protests across the country to facilitate peaceful protest while protecting public safety. pic.twitter.com\/Dn32JrJhzz<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na (@GardaTraffic) April 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n The force wrote: \u201cAn Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has and continues to engage extensively with those taking part in fuel protests across the country to facilitate peaceful protest while protecting public safety.\u201d<\/p>\n 8.18am<\/p>\n The Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) has offered to act as \u201can honest broker\u201d between fuel protesters and the Government, its president has said.<\/a><\/p>\n Ger Hyland was speaking on RT\u00c9 radio’s Morning Ireland on Friday morning as widespread disruption caused by the demonstrations continued into a fourth day.<\/p>\n On Thursday night, a spokesperson for the Dublin city blockade appeared on RT\u00c9\u2019s Prime Time and claimed protest participants would be attending a meeting with Government on Friday that was originally scheduled for official national representative bodies.<\/p>\n Later a Government spokesman said it had agreed to meet official representatives, adding,\u00a0\u201cWho these nationally and democratically constituted bodies choose to bring along with them is a matter for them.\u201d<\/p>\n On Friday morning, Hyland said the Government had \u201cextended two places at that table to our association\u201d.<\/p>\n He said he had put forward two people from the IRHA but \u201cit is up to the Government who goes to a Government meeting, I can\u2019t decide who I bring in, who I want\u201d.<\/p>\n Hyland said he had contact with the protesters \u201cthrough intermediaries\u201d and is available to meet demonstrators before the meeting, and \u201cif the protesters are happy\u201d he would \u201cbring their concerns with us into Government\u201d.<\/p>\n 8.11am<\/p>\n Over 100 filling stations have now run out of fuel, and that number could multiply rapidly today if blockades continue.<\/p>\n The head of Fuels for Ireland has said it is a significant number, and it could reach up to 500 if there is no improvement by the end of the day.<\/p>\n It comes as blockades at the country\u2019s main depots and only oil refinery in Co Cork continues on Friday morning.<\/p>\n Fuels for Ireland chief executive Kevin McPartlan told Newstalk that panic buying is making things worse, and is encouraging people to “keep their heads.<\/p>\n “I know that last night we were around about the 100 forecourts figure, which bare in mind that we have 1,600 forecourts in the country, it\u2019s a fairly significant number, and also it\u2019s quite regional, so there are kind of black spots in parts of Munster and in the west, where it\u2019s particularly difficult just because that\u2019s where the fuel depots that have been blockaded are based,” McPartlan said.<\/p>\n 8.05am<\/p>\n Fuel protests are causing disruption for motorists on a number of national roads on Friday morning.<\/p>\n The M7 remains closed at Portlaoise in both directions, while the M8 northbound from Cashel to Cahir is also blocked by protests.<\/p>\n In Limerick, the M7 is blocked at Annacotty in both directions, and the traffic delays are backing up to the Limerick tunnel, while the M18 in Co Clare is blocked at Dromoland.<\/p>\n Sections of the M9 northbound also remain blocked.<\/p>\n 8am<\/p>\n Dublin Airport have issued a passenger advisory for those travelling to and from the airport on Friday due to the protests.<\/p>\n Passengers have been advised to allow extra time for their journeys due to the protests causing traffic disruption on roads approaching the airport, and have been asked to use live traffic apps to identify the quickest and best routes.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udce2 Passenger Advisory: 8am<\/p>\n Passengers travelling to\/from Dublin Airport this morning are advised to allow extra time for their journey due to protest activity causing traffic disruption on some roads approaching the airport, including the M50.<\/p>\n Passengers should use live traffic\u2026<\/p>\n \u2014 Dublin Airport (@DublinAirport) April 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n It comes after people were photographed with luggage walking alongside heavy traffic on the M50 on Thursday as they tried to make it to the airport.<\/p>\n People with their luggage walk past the heavy traffic on Dublin’s M50 Northbound, due to vehicles taking part on the third day of a National Fuel Protest against rising fuel prices. Photo: PA<\/p>\n 7.53am<\/p>\n There are two full road closures along the M50.<\/p>\n The road is closed northbound at Blanchardstown after Junction 6, as is the Southbound route between Junction 3 at the M1\/M50 Interchange and Junction 4 Ballymun.<\/p>\n For more information on road closures, visit here.<\/a><\/p>\n 7.41am<\/p>\n Dubin Bus has warned on Friday morning that due to the ongoing fuel price protests, it is \u201cexperiencing ongoing severe service disruptions and delays\u201d resulting in a number of services being cancelled or diverted.<\/p>\n A full list is available on the Dublin Bus website.<\/a><\/p>\n #DBSvcUpdate<\/a> 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\/DjkxMSErwr<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/protesters-add-new-demands-as-over-100-forecourts-out-of-fuel-and-traffic-chaos-continues.jpg\")
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