Minister for Defence Helen McEntee said that the government will meet about seven representative bodies on Friday, and that it is her understanding these groups are the same bodies the government has met in recent weeks.

The Irish Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, said there would be “legal consequences” for some protests.

“It might not arise today or tomorrow but people have licences to drive vehicles, those licences will be affected.”

In a statement on Thursday, a gardaí spokesperson said the force was “moving to an enforcement phase” unless those blocking access to critical infrastructure “desist and disperse”.

They said blockades were putting food, fuel, clean water and animal feed supplies at risk.

Fuels for Ireland said that 100 garage forecourts have run out of fuel, mainly in Munster and the west of Ireland.

Its chief executive, Kevin McPartlin, told RTÉ that the number could be five times that by Friday night, adding that 50% of the country’s new supply was being kept behind barricade lines.