Fuel protesters end Whitegate blockade; Garda chief signals further action against protests

Main Points

• Several oil tankers have left Whitegate Oil Refinery after gardaí removed a blockade by fuel protesters, with several protesters arrested
• Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly has signalled further action against protesters “in the coming hours and days”
• Fuel protest organisers have confirmed a sixth day of protests on Sunday
• The Taoiseach has convened a rare weekend meeting of Cabinet tomorrow
• The Government hailed as “constructive” talks with representative groups as it works on the introduction of a temporary Fuel Support Scheme
• Road blockades remain in place across the country, with ongoing traffic disruption and disruption to Dublin Bus and Luas services

Best Reads

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That’s the end of our live coverage for this evening. Follow irishtimes.com for the latest news, features and analysis on the fuel crisis and its fallout.

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Government issues update on ‘constructive’ talks

The Government has issued a statement on today’s meetings between Ministers and representative groups from the transport, agriculture and fisheries sectors as the Government moves to finalise a support package amid the fuel crisis.

The statement from the Government Press Office said the meetings were “constructive”.

It noted that representatives from the Irish Road Haulage Association, the Freight Transport Association of Ireland, and the Coach Tourism & Transport Council of Ireland had expressed their full support for proposed measures in a transport support scheme.

It also said that the agriculture ministers have “taken onboard concerns as well as suggestions and ideas to ameliorate hardship” of members of representative farm and fisheries organisations.

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TII Update

Transport Infrastructure Ireland have issued their latest road closure update amid the ongoing fuel protests.

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Man arrested after Garda pursuit

Gardaí arrested one man after a protester and tractor towing a slurry tanker failed to stop at a Garda checkpoint on the Midleton to Whitegate road, prompting a pursuit by a number of Garda cars, reports Barry Roche.

Gardaí at the checkpoint sent out an alert and plainclothes officers who were monitoring protests in Whitegate village drove out from the village, and together with officers in marked cars, blocked the tractor’s path, forcing the driver to stop.

The man, who is in his 30s and from the greater Midleton area, was arrested for road traffic offenses and taken the Midleton Garda station where he was later charged with dangerous driving before being released.

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Whitegate refinery protest stood down

Gardaí have confirmed that fuel protesters have lifted their blockade at the Whitegate oil refinery in Co Cork, reports Southern Correspondent Barry Roche.

Protest organisers decided at around 5pm to lift their blockade, and protesters began removing trucks and tractors from the junction on the main road leading to the Irving oil refinery.

Gardaí confirmed that all protesters had left the scene by 7pm but said they will continue to maintain a presence in Whitegate for the next 36 hours to ensure that petroleum supplies can continue to be collected and delivered.

According to a Garda source, the refinery will remain open overnight for trucks to come and collect both petrol and diesel. Gardaí expect around 500 trucks to access the facility over the next 48 hours.

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Taoiseach to convene rare weekend Cabinet meeting

The Taoiseach will convene a meeting of the Cabinet on Sunday amid continuing nationwide protests over the cost of fuel.

It is highly unusual for a full government meeting to be convened on a weekend. The government has been engaging with various groups in discussions relating to the fuel crisis over the weekend.

It’s expected that Ministers for Justice and Defence Jim O’Callaghan and Helen McEntee will update ministers on Garda and Defence Forces operations.

“There will also be an update on the talks that have been ongoing throughout the weekend,” a government spokesperson said.

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Coach body hails ‘constructive’ Government talks

The Coach Tourism and Transport Council (CTTC) has described as “constructive” its engagement with Government in discussions relating to the fuel crisis on Saturday.

In a statement, the CTTC said it was looking forward to “re-engaging” with Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien, Minister of State Sean Canney and their officials on Monday.

“The CTTC used these discussions to set out a package of important measures aimed at protecting essential bus and coach services across the country, including school transport, coach tourim, private hire, and scheduled services,” a spokesperson said.

“We are encouraged by the focus on our industry’s challenges and the greater understanding within Government of the strategic importance of commercial bus and coach operators.”

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Public urged to check on vulnerable neighbours

The National Emergency Coordination Group (NECG) has also urged the public to check on vulnerable neighbours and to make sure they have the necessary supplies given difficulties in home care staff reaching them.

The Department is working closely with the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) and others to assess the effect on medicine supplies and mitigate the impact of any potential delays, it said.

The disruption to supplies of animal feed and fertiliser is also said to be a significant issue, threatening the welfare of animals. The NECG cited an increasing threat to the feasibility of milk collections from farms.

Bus Éireann has confirmed that school transport services are intended to resume on Monday and is liaising with contractors to ensure any disruption is limited and localised.

“Parents are advised that if blockades continue to impact on road access in some parts of the country and challenges continue with fuel distribution, there are likely to be delays and potential service disruption experienced to some services. Bus Éireann will endeavour to advise families of any disruption to services as soon as such information is made available.”

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Minister for Justice says continuation of blockades is unacceptable

Shortly after the statement from the Garda Commissioner, Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan released a statement saying the continuation of blockades was unacceptable.

“While we all acknowledge the impact of higher fuel prices, and seek to minimise that impact, no groups are entitled in our Republic to hold our people to ransom in such a manner,” he said.

“An Garda Síochána has commenced operations to allow critical infrastructure to operate so people have access to fuel.”

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Emergency group warns of risk to critical supply chains

The National Emergency Coordination Group (NECG), which met again on Saturday, has said critical supply chains, including pharmaceuticals and time‑sensitive products, are particularly reliant on uninterrupted access to fuel, ports and a mobile workforce in order to maintain 24‑hour operations and reach market.

“Ongoing transport disruption is already affecting the timeliness of certain deliveries and increasing operational pressures across the supply chain,” it said in a statement.

It also said the blockades were impeding efforts to ensure that adequate fuel supplies reach emergency services.

“Arrangements are in place to ensure that principal response agencies such as the National Ambulance Service and the Fire Service can access fuel as required. In some areas there are service stations dedicated to dispensing fuel to emergency services only.”

“The sustainability of fuel supplies for emergency vehicles continues to be a matter of growing concern as does the ability of staff to report for duty. If the current situation continues, the risk of service curtailment will become more likely.”

It also urged the public to only buy the fuel needed and warned that storing fuel at home brought significant safety risks.

Storage capacity at some Irish ports is now becoming a concern, it said, and shipping companies are monitoring the situation.

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Garda chief signals gardaí will move to disperse ongoing blockades

The Garda Commissioner appeared to confirm that gardaí will move to disperse ongoing blockades at Foynes Port in Limerick, Galway Port, and Rosslare Europort.

Justin Kelly also said the arrests at Whitegate were made under public order and road traffic laws. He said gardaí have arrested “several” fuel protestors across the country, but declined to give a specific number.

The Commissioner said he was “completely satisfied” with the level of force exercised by gardaí in removing the blockade at Whitegate.

He said gardaí will use force “up to the level that’s necessary” in further operations.

“I certainly want that message to go out that we will not tolerate this any longer,” he said.

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The relaxation was introduced as a result of the fuel blockades. However, in a statement, the Department of Transport noted that “drivers should not deviate from the rules if it jeopardises road safety, nor should they be expected to drive whilst tired. Employers remain responsible for the health and safety of their employees and other road users.”

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They are to be applied immediately for an initial period of eight days.

It means the daily driving limit is increased from nine to 11 hours, two times per week and the maximum weekly driving limit is increased from 56 hours to 60 hours.

The fortnightly driving limit is increased from 90 to 102 hours.

Rules relating to weekly rest are also being relaxed by allowing drivers to take a reduced weekly rest of at least 24 hours in each consecutive week during the relaxation period.

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Temporary derogation of driving hours regulations

Temporary derogation of driving hours regulations for road transport of certain fuel types have been approved by Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien.

He approved the measure for certain driving hours and rest period requirements for road hauliers transporting liquid fuel used for home heating oil or as a propellant within Ireland.

“Approval was granted in light of the evolving situation and the anticipated levels of fuel demand. This will enable reasonable flexibility for drivers and businesses to keep supply chains moving while also balancing driver welfare and road safety objectives,” a statement on Saturday evening said.

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More tankers leave Whitegate refinery

Gardai have escorted another four tankers from the Whitegate refinery in Cork, bringing the total to 12 collecting petrol and diesel from the facility since the blockade was lifted earlier today.

The tankers, each understood to carry up to 42,000 litres of fuel, left the refinery under with protestors kept about 50 metres away behind barriers.

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He also noted that such operations required the deployment of a large number of gardaí.

“Gardaí who should have been engaged in patrolling cities and towns, community engagement, and investigating crimes such as domestic abuse,” he said, adding that this action could now not take place.

“We are aware that there has been intimidation of fuel tanker drivers, these are criminal offences, we will not tolerate this and we will investigate all such reports and prosecute suspects.”

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Garda Commissioner issues update

Blockading critical infrastructure is not a legitimate form of protest, but rather an illegal act that is “endangering the State”, the Garda Commissioner has said.

Speaking at Garda HQ in Phoenix Park on Saturday, Justin Kelly said protestors engaging in the blockading of fuel depots and oil refineries has resulted in fuel shortages impacting hospitals, ambulance and fire services, as well as businesses and the general public.

“These are blockades. They are not a legitimate form of protest. They are illegal activity that is endangering our State,” Kelly said.

“These blockades have put An Garda Síochána in an invidious position of having to deploy public order units in order to ensure that hospitals can function, fires can be responded to, and people can be brought to hospital.”

Earlier on Saturday, gardaí dispersed protestors blocking access to the Whitegate Oil Refinery, the State’s only such facility. The Garda made a number of arrests during this operation, the commissioner said.

“We never want to do this, but the blockaders have left us with no choice. We gave the blockaders fair warning that we were moving to enforcement and they choose to ignore it and continue to hold the country to ransom,” he said.

Kelly said there would be further such operations in “the coming hours and days”.

“My message is clear. Blockaders must immediately cease blockades of critical infrastructure and road networks or face the full rigours of the law.”

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This is the most recent update on the state of road disruption from TII:

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Independent TDs should withdraw Government support, IBLA says

The Irish Beef and Lamb Association (IBLA) has called on independent TDs to “withdraw support” from the Government so a general election can be called, Sarah Slater reports.

Chairman Kieran Delaney said there was “no confidence” in the Government over its “very poor handling of the current fuel protest and other recent events that affect the farming community”.

The IBLA feels that the lack of understanding, coupled with a lack of communication by Government with protest organisers was “not democratic” and warranted immediate action.

“The lack of vision to not include all farm representative organisations – not simply the ‘old boys club’ few has greatly contributed to this current crisis,” he said.

He said excluding those representing other voices in the farming community was counter productive and indicated poor judgement by Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris.

“The language used and the threats of introducing the army to deal with protesters is akin to panicked actions taken in a dictatorship.”

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An Garda Síochána has condemned reports of alleged intimidation and harassment targeting drivers of fuel tankers.

“This is unacceptable. This is not protest. This is criminal activity,” the force said in a social media statement.

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Irish Times photographer Alan Betson is on O’Connell Bridge where fuel protesters have gathered for the fifth day of demonstrations. Boxer Kellie Harrington is among those present.

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Dublin Bus expects ‘severe’ disruption

Dublin Bus is expecting continued “severe” disruption to its services on Saturday evening, with Nitelink routes to operate from temporary termini at St Stephen’s Green and Mountjoy Square.

Routes 7n, 46n, 49n, 69n, 77n and 84n will depart from stop 790 at St Stephen’s Green North.

Routes 29n, 31n, 33n, 42n, 70n and 88n will depart from stop 4962 at Mountjoy Square.

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The Garda says its policing operation is ongoing at Whitegate Oil Refinery after tankers left the facility this afternoon.

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Tankers leave Whitegate Oil Refinery under Garda escort after removal of blockade

Petroleum supplies have begun leaving Whitegate Oil Refinery in Cork again to filling stations in the south after eight oil tankers successfully departed the facility around 3pm, Southern Correspondent Barry Roche reports.

The tankers left the facility in a convoy under Garda escort.

About 120 protesters were present but kept approximately 50 metres back from the main road behind barriers patrolled by the garda public order unit.

Some of the protesters jeered and shouts of “scum” could be heard but the convoy passed through the village without incident. A small number of protesters began to leave soon after.

On Friday, Irving Oil, which runs the refinery, said it was facing the risk of being unable to continue processing fuel due to limited storage and distribution capacity.

It warned that it was actively assessing all contingency options for safety purposes including redirecting product to international markets or a potential reduction of its operations.

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Here’s the latest from Transport Infrastructure Ireland on road closures.

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HSE services opening late in some areas to facilitate patients

The recently appointed chief executive of the HSE has said services are opening late at a number of hospitals and care centres around the country as organisation tried to facilitate patients who are trying to get to appointments, reports Work Correspondent Emmet Malone.

“The whole situation has been a very significant concern to the health services,” said Anne O’Connor at the Irish Medical Organisation conference in Killarney .

“We are seeing people who really need to attend services not able to get there now because they’re delayed or they can’t fuel up. So we’re accommodating those people by running kind of clinics later and doing whatever we can.

“There are also concerns about people in their own homes, because obviously we look after a lot of people across the country in their homes and the ability of carers to be able to get to those people is a big concern for us.

“Having said all of that, our services are continuing. We are asking people to attend. We haven’t cancelled services, and it will really depend on how long this goes on for.

“If it continues,” she said, “there will be a big impact next week. But as it stands today, our services are all functioning and we are managing.”

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Monaghan Stages Rally postponed

The 2026 Ronnie Hawe Monaghan Stages Rally, which was scheduled to take place tomorrow has been postponed.

In a statement, organisers said, “due to significant logistical challenges caused by road blockades both nationwide and within Monaghan, affecting competitors, marshals, officials, and suppliers, the club has made the difficult decision not to proceed with the event.”

“We deeply regret making this announcement at such a late stage and assure you that every effort was made to find a solution,” it added.

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Photographs from O’Connell Street this afternoon showing large crowds

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Organisers confirm sixth day of protests

In a post on Facebook, The People Of Ireland Against Fuel Prices Protest group said, tomorrow from 11am, people will be gathering in towns and counties across the country for “a peaceful nationwide protest.”

Meeting points have been organised in all 26 counties.

“We encourage people right across the country to join on foot, with family, friends, local communities, and working people standing together,” the post said.

“We also encourage local musicians and entertainers to come along and help make a day of it, bringing unity, community spirit and support to people in their own local areas.”

“This has always been a peaceful protest, and all we want is for our government to listen to the people. This movement is growing stronger every day, and we are not backing down.”

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Gardaí upload videos on X platform from Whitegate

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Operation to clear Whitegate blockade took Gardaí one hour

Tempers flared and pepper spray was used by some members of the Garda Public Order Unit as they proceeded to push protesters back from the main road in Whitegate village to a parallel street as officers began lifting the blockade of the oil refinery, reports Southern Correspondent Barry Roche.

In the end, the operation to clear the blockade took about an hour – from the first moves just before 1pm to a Garda social media post showing oil tankers under escort at 1.17pm. It took about 30 minutes to clear protesters from the roadway in Whitegate village.

Up to 50 got caught between the advancing Garda unit and uniformed officers at the rear. Protesters were knocked to the ground as gardaí tried to move them off the road across a narrow green area.

Several protesters were caught between parked tractors forming a blockade on the main road. Several people accused gardaí of being heavy handed in their tactics.

Once the roadway was cleared and barriers were put up on both sides of the road uniformed officers began to man the barriers preventing the protesters from getting back on to the roadway. Few, if any, attempted to.

Army engineers with heavy lifting equipment were on standby. However, the owners of a tractor and digger handed over the keys and gardaí drove them away.

It is estimated that up to 300 gardaí were involved in the operation. Garda sources have confirmed to The Irish Times that they are in possession of a water cannon. It has not been used to date.

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HSE Midwest heard it was taking some staff six hours to get to and from work

A management meeting of the HSE Midwest heard that it was taking some staff up to six hours to get to and from work in the region as a result of the fuel protests on roads, reports David Raleigh.

Fianna Fáil TD Niall Collins told local radio station Live 95 that the fuel protest on roads had directly resulted in a cancer patient spending “four hours” in their car after they had chemotherapy at University Hospital Limerick.

“This is having huge ramifications for people who want to go about their normal daily lives,” said Collins.

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Video footage of gardaí removing protesters and erecting barricades at Whitegate

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‘We will remain here at Foynes until we get answers,” says protester

A member of the fuel protest at Foynes, Co Limerick, said his 40-year-old, family-run plant hire business was hanging on a thread over “crippling” fuel costs, reports David Raleigh.

Speaking Saturday, at the front line of the fuel protest blockade at Foynes, Martin Sheahan said: “I’m under ferocious pressure with the way the price of fuel has gone and it is crippling the country.”

“We need our Government to try and sort out this and give us a break and try and keep the country afloat,” he offered.

Sheahan said he operates “a few diggers on the road and a couple of trucks” but he had temporarily turned off the engines on his machines as the cost of running them was too high.

“It’s just getting harder every year, I’m 39 years on the road, and this has been the hardest year that I have met.”

“Fuel (cost) is absolutely crippling us, and it is essential to what we do, the machines won’t go without it.”

Sheahan, a father of two, said his two sons are involved in the business too, and that their livelihoods were also under threat due to the current price of fuel.

“We will remain here at Foynes until we get answers, we are here for a long haul,” he pledged.

“The public are very good to us here, we have good backing, and great friends coming here bringing us food and looking after all the lads here; We are well-in with the public and the public need support as well.”

Sheahan’s message to the government was a simple one: “Please sort out this fast, we can’t stick much more of this (fuel price), and if it continues, there will be auctions of machines, lads will have to sell out and businesses will be gone.”

Motorists passing the blockade beeped their vehicle horns in support of the protesters and donations of hot food, refreshments, anoraks and umbrellas, continued to pour into the blockade camp, to keep protesters warm dry and fed.

Protesters said the Foynes blockade would continue until their demands, that included a fuel price cap, is met.

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‘It has become a live operational crisis,’ says CEO of Home and Community Care Ireland

Home and Community Care Ireland (HCCI) has warned in a statement that ongoing fuel shortages and blockades are now placing essential home care services at serious risk, with thousands of vulnerable older and disabled people facing missed or reduced care in the coming days unless urgent steps are taken.

HCCI has written to Minister for Older People Kieran O’Donnell to provide an updated operational overview on the situation. This follows a meeting with the Minister on Friday.

HCCI has highlighted to the Minister that carers in rural areas, particularly in the west, south‑west and midlands, are being hit hardest as fuel supplies tighten.

“Providers are now drawing up contingency plans to halt lower‑priority care visits in order to preserve limited fuel and carer capacity for those with the highest levels of need,” the statement said.

“Most concerning is the information regarding 3,359 clients across which is reporting they sole‑carer dependent, which means that their home care worker is their only source of essential personal care, and often their only human contact during the day. For these individuals, a missed call can be the difference between remaining safely at home and ending up in an acute hospital bed,” it added.

Joseph Musgrave, chief executive of HCCI said, “This is no longer a hypothetical risk it has become a live operational crisis. Home care only works if carers can physically reach the people who depend on them.

“If fuel shortages continue to block that access, care will be rationed and the consequences will land squarely on hospitals and emergency services within days, not weeks.”

Home carers are an essential frontline healthcare service. They must be recognised and treated as such during this emergency, with guaranteed access to fuel and clear national assurances on pay for cancelled calls, so carers are not forced to choose between financial loss and patient safety.”

HCCI is calling for three immediate measures, written confirmation that carers will be paid for cancelled calls beyond their control, to be issued urgently and applied uniformly nationwide, priority recognition for home carers, through photo ID or other mechanisms, to allow access through disrupted road networks and at fuel forecourts and temporary classification of home carers’ vehicles as a priority class for fuel access for the duration of the emergency.

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‘Blockaders must comply with Garda directions’

In a post on X, Gardaí said “A Garda Operation is ongoing at Whitegate Refinery to ensure critical supplies of fuel to maintain critical emergency public services, including Ambulance and Fire Services.”

Garda Public Order Units have been deployed.

“Blockaders must comply with Garda directions,” the post said.

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‘An anarchic set of protests that have no basis in law,’ says Minister for Health

The Minister for Health has said there are concerns regarding the ability of patients to make it to outpatients and other appointments, healthcare staff to reach their places of work and service providers at hospitals to operate normally if the fuel protests continue into next week.

Speaking to the media after having addressed doctors at the Irish Medical Organisation conference in Killarney, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said, “What we are concerned about, though, were this to go on over the weekend and into next week that people is that things won’t happen.

“We are concerned, for example, that were this to continue, we would have difficulty in getting chemotherapy treatments delivered to hospitals. We are concerned that we would have difficulties with laundry services to support the running of acute hospitals. We’re concerned that we would have difficulty not with the ambulances themselves, but with the staff of the national Ambulance Service who need to get to the ambulances in their own private transportation.

Carroll MacNeil asked protesters to step down and to “enable the normal transportation that we have become accustomed to and that people are entitled to around the country in the interests of patient safety.”

When it was put to her that there has been evidence of significant public support for the protesters in different parts of the country, she said “there’s a lot of people who do not support this, and who articulate that to us as well”.

“Stability and predictability has been the cornerstone of our society [but these are] an anarchic set of protests that have no basis in law, no basis in our custom and practice, and no validity in terms of the way in which they’re being conducted,” said Carroll MacNeil.

“This goes beyond the concept of peaceful protest into deeply, deeply disrupting the economic and social fabric of the state and putting, as I’m trying to highlight, patients and people at risk.”

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Garda presence at Whitegate remove protesters

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Road closure updates from TII

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Government working on the introduction of a temporary Fuel Support Scheme

The Government is working on the introduction of a temporary Fuel Support Scheme to assist farmers, hauliers, and contractors most impacted by the spike in fuel costs caused by the conflict in the Middle East.

It is understood the scheme will be discussed at meetings with representative groups today, including those from the agriculture, transport and fisheries sectors.

Government sources say the Fuel Support Scheme will be targeted at those directly involved in Ireland’s food supply. These groups are considered to have been the most affected by the increase in fuel costs and will be supported with direct payments under the plan.

According to sources, the Government is also engaging with the European Commission to ensure any additional supports can be delivered in line with State aid rules.

It is expected that a fuel support scheme would be time-bound and kept under review.

The Government considers that maintaining supply chains across agriculture, transport and fisheries is critical, and that any disruption risks driving up costs for households and businesses.

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Tractor and digger removed from Whitegate by Gardaí

Gardaí have removed a tractor and digger from the road, clearing the village of Whitegate, reports Southern Correspondent Barry Roche.

The access road to the oil refinery itself remains blocked by a number of trucks and will likely be the next point of focus for authorities.

There have been some reports of pepper spray being used during the clearance operation.

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Army engineers arrive at Whitegate with heavy lifting equipment

Army engineers have arrived with heavy lifting equipment to move tractors blocking the road through Whitegate village, reports Southern Correspondent Barry Roche.

Gardaí have issued a warning to the owners of the tractors that they run the risk of them being damaged if they don’t remove them voluntarily.

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Gardaí successfully remove protesters at Whitegate

Gardaí have succeeded in removing protestors from the road at Whitegate and are erecting barriers to keep them back, although a number of tractors remain where they have been left, obstructing access, reports Southern Correspondent Barry Roche.

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Gardaí issue warning to protesters at Whitegate

Gardaí have issued a warning to protesters to clear the road near the oil refinery in Whitegate, Co Cork, reports Southern Correspondent Barry Roche.

The Garda public order unit on standby in Whitegate village.

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PSNI ‘maintaining an ongoing assessment’

Police in Northern Ireland said they were “maintaining an ongoing assessment” in relation to social media posts calling for fuel protests there.

A PSNI spokeswoman said: “A policing response has been prepared, if needed, to ensure public safety and to help minimise any potential disruption to the wider community.” – PA

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Only a quarter of normal daily deliveries being completed, says Fuels for Ireland CEO

Kevin McPartlan, chief executive of Fuels for Ireland said in a statement, “if these blockades at fuel terminals in Cork, Limerick and Galway are not lifted by Monday, we will not be in a position to guarantee fuel availability at forecourts nationwide by early next week.

“With only around 25 percent of normal daily deliveries currently being completed, due to ongoing protests at fuel terminals and across the national road network, supplies are becoming increasingly unpredictable.”

He said it will be a matter of prioritising where deliveries can be made. “We cannot guarantee where or when fuel will be available.”

He said if things deteriorate to that point, it could take up to a month to restore normal service across the country.

“Each additional day this disruption continues is not simply prolonging the current problem, it is compounding it. Even if access were restored immediately, normal supply conditions would not return overnight.

“Once disruption on this scale takes hold, there is no instant reset. Stocks have to be rebuilt, delivery schedules restored, and normal distribution patterns re-established across the country.”

He said Ireland is also at risk of losing access to inbound fuel supply if terminals cannot operate normally and cargo cannot be discharged or processed through the system as intended.

“Every additional day of disruption widens the gap to restoring normal fuel access for households, businesses and essential services.

“What began as an access issue is steadily becoming a supply issue, and Ireland cannot afford for that risk to deepen in the middle of a wider oil crisis.

“The longer normal terminal activity is prevented, the greater the risk to national fuel supply, and the more serious the consequences become for motorists, businesses and essential services across the country,” he warned.

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“If we get what we want, we’ll have to call it the f**king Burger King deal because we’ve been in there all day,” farming contractor Christopher Duffy told fuel protesters on O’Connell Bridge in Dublin city centre on Thursday night, writes Political Correspondent Jack Horgan-Jones and Conor Gallagher of The Irish Times Investigations Unit.

He was in high spirits. It had just been claimed the Government would meet protesters on Friday after a week of fuel price protests.

“We said if we got a meeting, we’d go home. Well, we’re not. We’ll go home when we see what we get at the meeting,” he said to cheers. “There’s not one f**king oil truck moving in this country until we get what we want,” he said. “We have the country by the balls.”

Over the course of just three days, protesters had brought much of the country to a standstill. In response, the Government had said it was sending in the Army to remove the protesters’ trucks and tractors. But the Army never appeared. Not one protester had been arrested nor a vehicle removed.

For the full article, read here.

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Reduced number of protesters at refinery in Whitegate and water cannon arrives in Cork

Protesters are continuing to block access to the refinery in Whitegate, Co Cork but numbers are much reduced as the protest by hauliers, farmers and contractors enters its fifth day, reports Southern Correspondent Barry Roche.

Garda sources have confirmed to the Irish Times that they have received a water cannon in Cork. There was no sign of the equipment in Whitegate where the mood remains calm with protesters chatting amicably with Gardaí.

Around 100 protesters are blocking the entrance to Irving Oil Refinery at the southern end of the village in east Cork. Trucks and tractors have been carefully placed to prevent any oil tanker from gaining entrance to the facility.

Garda numbers are also reduced with up to 50 officers maintaining a presence in Whitegate village outside a series of barriers which they erected on Friday, hemming in protesters where they had begun the blockade.

However, two tankers were allowed in to the refinery on Friday via a slip road following the agreement of protesters that a consignment of kerosene heating oil and white diesel could be collected.

Gardaí mounted a policing operation at several check points where officers were stopping all traffic on the main Midleton to Whitegate Road at Cloyne and Saleen in to the village.

Gardaí also mounted checkpoints on most other access roads in to Whitegate with Gardaí stopping motorists at various crossroads around Cloyne, upper Aghada and Inch in an effort to stop any hauliers, contractors or farmers from joining the protest.

The deployment of extra Gardaí from all over Cork city and county following the announcement by Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly that he was declaring an exceptional policing event until 8pm on Monday.

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600 filling stations run dry, says Fuels for Ireland CEO

About 600 of the 1,500 filling stations around the Republic of Ireland have run dry, according to Fuels for Ireland chief executive Kevin McPartlan.

He said he expected the number “will grow quite dramatically” if ongoing blockades of fuel depots remain in place.

Asked on RTE Radio One’s The Business how that number may grow, he said: “If everything remains as it is, that is to say that the three facilities remain blockaded, then I don’t think we could guarantee fuel at any forecourt by very early next week, Monday morning or Monday perhaps.”

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TII updates Motorway closures

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Ship at Galway Port carrying fuel unable to un-load

Speaking on RTÉ Radio One’s The Business show, Chief Executive of Fuels for Ireland Kevin McPartlan, said a ship called the Thun Gemini, understood to be carrying six million litres of fuel, is currently parked up at Galway Port as it cannot unload.

He said it was due to unload at 8am yesterday.

“It’s impossible. It’s unlawful to unload at the moment because the vessel regulations, the particular European regulations, which govern sites which are high risk due to hazardous substances, means that you are not allowed to unload that vessel unless there are emergency exits and access routes guaranteed.”

He said the emergency exits and access routes have not been guaranteed since Tuesday, and “we’ve been pointing that out to An Garda Síochána in Galway and saying we need those routes to be secured, otherwise we cannot operate the terminal, including we cannot unload that vessel.”

“Now, I think we’re really shooting ourselves in the foot,” he added.

McPartlan said he is aware of another “very large vessel” which is due into one of these facilities in the coming days

“The terminal operator is actively considering whether they pay the demurrage (the fee for being parked up at a port)…or whether they just send that vessel somewhere else.”

He said there are two elements involved: “one is that safety piece, which is the very critical one in Galway at the moment, but also the fact that no stock has moved through these sites in several days means, do they actually have the storage? Can they actually take the fuel that is on those vessels or do they have to just send it somewhere else?”

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The Government is hoping to face down fuel protests with the prospect of a multimillion-euro package of supports which will be signed off only once the protests have been stood down – and with tougher enforcement by gardaí, writes Political Correspondent Jack Horgan-Jones, Conor Gallagher of the The Irish Times Investigations Unit and Political Editor Pat Leahy.

The overall size of the package has not yet been nailed down but it is understood it will be in the tens of millions at least.

Protester representatives were denied entry into talks between Government Ministers and representative groups on Friday, despite earlier claims they would attend. It sparked an angry reaction from protesters on the ground who vowed to continue shutting down roads and facilities around the country.

For the full article, read here.

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Rosslare Europort to experience capacity issues from tomorrow

Rosslare Europort has said it will soon be “facing challenges” as two ships are coming in tomorrow and early Monday morning and “once they off-load, we will have no further capacity.”

“We will then have to turn ships back to wait on anchor out from the port or advise to go to an alternative port,” it said in a statement.

It said that protesters set up a blockade at Kilrain, which is around a mile (1.6km) from Rosslare Europort on Thursday morning and is still in place.

Only passenger traffic is currently being permitted to pass through.

Yesterday, an accompanied pharmaceutical freight was permitted through, but that has now stopped since yesterday afternoon.

There is currently about a mile (1.6km) of a tail back of trucks, it said.

“Once the blockades are lifted, it will take some time to get the port cleared before we can take any more freight in and the port may need to put restrictions on capacity during this time.”

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Motorway closure update

In a post on X, TII updated the list of full road closures in place on motorways.

M50:

• M50 between J06 – Blanchardstown direction northbound
• M50 between J05 – Finglas and J06 – Blanchardstown direction both
• M50 between J11 – Tallaght and J10 – Ballymount direction northbound
• M50 J03 – M1/M50 direction southbound

M1:

• M1 between J04 – Donabate and J03 – Swords direction southbound

M4:

• M4/N4 J01 – N4/M50 direction eastbound Slip M4 to M50 north

M6:

• M6/N6 between J08 – Athlone and J09 – Garrycastle direction both

M7:

• M7 J08 – Johnstown direction eastbound
• M7 between J16 – Portlaoise and J17 – Portlaoise direction both
• M7 between J29 – M7/N24 and J30 – M7/N18/M20 direction both

M8:

• M8 J09 – Cashel (south) direction northbound

M9:

• M9 J09 – Kilkenny (S) direction northboundM9 between J03 – Athy and J02 – Kilcullen direction northbound
• M9 between J02 – Kilcullen and J03 – Athy direction southbound

M18:

• M18/N18 J11 – Dromoland direction both
• M18/N18 J13 – Tulla Direction northbound
• M18/N18 between J02 – Dock and J01 – Rossbrien direction southbound
• M18/N18 J14 – Barefield direction southbound Slip R458 to M18

M20:

• M20/N20 between J04 – Patrickswell and J03 – Raheen direction northbound

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National Ambulance Service successfully refueled overnight, confirms Minister for Health

Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, has told doctors attending the Irish Medical Organistion in Killarney that the National Ambulance Service vehicles were successfully refuelled overnight, avoiding a crisis in the service, reports Emmet Malone.

She said, however, that concerns around the ability of those working in community and home care services to get to clients today and asked people around the country to check on elderly or vulnerable neighbours over the weekend to ensure they are not in need of help.

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Fuel could not be guaranteed in forecourts if depot blockades continue, says CEO of Fuels for Ireland

Kevin McPartlan, Chief Executive of Fuels for Ireland said fuel could not be guaranteed in forecourts if the depot blockades continue over the weekend as things would be too unpredictable, while speaking on RTÉ Radio One’s The Business show.

“You have to understand the impact has been regionally skewed because the terminal in Galway which serves a lot of the west of Ireland and up to Sligo, Donegal has been out of action since Tuesday morning. Foynes has been out of action since Wednesday so that’s the Midwest into the Midlands,” he said.

He said the refinery in Cork has one third of all the fuel that is brought into Ireland and is impacting fuel supply in the Munster region.

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Bus Éireann services at Rosslare Europort suspended

Bus Éireann has said all services at Rosslare Europort are currently suspended until further notice, and will instead begin and end at Wexford Train Station.

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Counties Clare, Limerick, Tipperary, Laois, Offaly, Kildare, Galway, Cork, and Dublin‘s motorway networks are impacted by fuel protests, says TII

In a post on X, TII issued a statement on the National Road/Motorway network protest impact.

It said there is “significant distribution across the national road/motorway network currently impacting Counties Clare, Limerick, Tipperary, Laois, Offaly, Kildare, Galway, Cork, and Dublin.”

It is working closely with the Garda Traffic Core

It requested that all road users leave the hard shoulder available for emergency services.

“The protest is mobile at times and can impact different regions at different times,” it said.

For planning purposes it said to go to https://traffic.tii.ie for live information.

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TII issues update to motorway closures nationwide

In a post on X, TII has issued an update in the locations of full road closures in place on motorways.

M50:

• M50 between J06 – Blanchardstown direction northbound
• M50 between J05 – Finglas and J06 – Blanchardstown direction Both

M4:

• M4/N4 J01 – N4/M50 direction eastbound Slip M4 to M50 north

M6:

• M6/N6 between J08 – Athlone and J09 – Garrycastle direction both

M7:

• M7 J08 – Johnstown direction eastbound
• M7 between J16 – Portlaoise and J17 – Portlaoise direction both
• M7 between J29 – M7/N24 and J30 – M7/N18/M20 direction both

M8:

• M8 J09 – Cashel (south) direction northbound

M18:

• M18/N18 J11 – Dromoland direction both
• M18/N18 J13 – Tulla direction northbound
• M18/N18 between J02 – DOCK and J01 – Rossbrien direction southbound
• M18/N18 J14 – Barefield direction southbound Slip R458 to M18

M20:

• M20/N20 between J04 – Patrickswell and J03 – Raheen direction northbound

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Disruptions to Dublin Bus services

The following routes have new termini due to the ongoing protest in Dublin City Centre:

Route 1 – Santry to / from Parnell Square

Route 4 – Monkstown Avenue to / from Merrion Square

Route 7/a – Brides Glen Luas Stop / Loughlinstown to / from Merrion Square

Route 7 b/d: Shankill / Dalkey to / from Merrion Square

Route 7e: Dalkey to Ballsbridge

Route 11/b – North Circular to Parnell Square only

Route 11/b – Sandyford to Stephen’s Green only

Route 13 – Grangecastle to / from Mountjoy Square

Route 14 – North: Beaumont (Ardlee Road) to Talbot Street (only)

Route 14 – South: Dame Street to Dundrum Luas (only)

Route 15 – North: Clongriffin to Amiens Street (only)

Route 15 – South: Dame Street to Ballycullen (only)

Route 19 – Dublin Airport to / from Parnell Square

Route 27 – South: Jobstown to Cook Street (only)

Route 27 – North: Clare Hall to Amiens Street (only)

Route 27B – Harristown to/from Talbot Street

Route 33 – Balbriggan/Skerries to / from Mountjoy Square

Route 37 – Blanchardstown to / from Blackhall Place

Route 38/a/b – Damastown to / from Parnell Square

Route 39/a – Ongar to / from Blackhall Place

Route 40D – Tyrellstown to / from Parnell Square

Route 41 – Swords Manor to / from Mountjoy Square

Route 41B – Rolestown to / from Mountjoy Square

Route 41C – Swords Manor to / from Mountjoy Square

Route 44 – South: Stephen’s Green to Enniskerry (only)

Route 44d: Dundrum Luas to / from Stephen’s Green

Route 60 – Red Cow Luas to Cook Street / Cook Street to Red Cow Luas

Route 68/A – Newcastle / Greenogue to Cook Street / Cook Street to Newcastle / Greenogue

Route 69 – Rathcoole to Cook Street / Cook Street to Rathcoole

Route 70 – Dunboyne to Blackhall Place / Blackhall Place to Dunboyne

Route 74 – Dundrum Luas to / from Cook Street

Route 120 – Ashtown Rail Station to / from Parnell Square

Route 122 – North: Ashington to / from Parnell Square (only)

Route 122 – South: Drimnagh to / from Georges Street (only)

Route 150 – To / From Limekiln to Cook St

Route 151 – Foxborough to Cook Street / Cook Street to Foxborough

Route C1/C2/C3/C4/C5/C6 and 52 – Operating to / from Heuston Station

Route E1 – Ballywaltrim to Stephen’s Green / Stephen’s Green to Ballywaltrim (only)

Route E2 – North: Harristown to / from Parnell Square (only)

Route E2 – South: Stephen’s Green to Dun Laoghaire

Route E2 – South: Dun Laoghaire to Stephen’s Green

Route G1 – Red Cow to / from Cook Street

Route G2 – Liffey Valley to / from Cook Street

All other routes are operating as normal.

The following diversions are in place:

Route 13 – Services depart from Mountjoy Square, turn onto Gardiner Street, Dorset Street, Church Street, High Street, James Street and back on normal route

Route 13 from Grange Castle will operate as far as James Street, divert via High Street, Church Street, Western Way, Blessington Street and Mountjoy Square.

Route 15A/B/D – From Merrion Square, Diverted onto Merrion Street, Baggot Street, Pembrook Street, Leeson Street, Earlsfort Terrace, Adelaide Road, Richmond Street and back on normal route.

Route 15A/B/D – Towards the city, normal route to Camden Street, divert to Hatch Street, Earlsfort Terrace, St Stephens Green, Baggot Street, Merrion Street and back onto Merrion Square

Route 16/D – Normal route to Dorset Street, then divert straight to King St, left for Church St, straight to Bridge St, left to High St, straight to Lord Edward Street, Dame Street, turning right onto George’s Street and back on normal route.

Route 16 from Ballinteer, normal route to George’s Street, turn left onto Dame Street, Lord Edward St, High St, right onto Bridge St, straight to Church St, right onto King St, straight to Dorset St and back to normal route

Route 23/24 – From Charlestown/Dublin Airport normal route to Fr Mathew Bridge, Bridge Street Lower, Patrick Street, Kevin Street to St Stephen’s Green.

Route 23/24 – Stephen’s Green, to Cuffe Street, Christchurch and back on normal route.

Route 65 – from Poolbeg Street toward Blessington, Tara Street, Westland row, Merrion Square West, St Stephens Green, Earlsfort Terrace , Adelaide Road, Richmond Street back onto normal route.

Route 65 – from Blessington to Poolbeg Street, normal route to Camden Street, Hatch Street, Earlsfort Terrace, Stephens Green, right onto Hume Street, Merrion Square West and Poolbeg Street.

Route 65B – Poolbeg Street to Citywest Outbound Tara Street, Westland Row, Merrion Square West, St Stephens Green, Earlsfort Terrace, Adelaide Rd ,Richmond Street back onto normal route.

Route 65B – Citywest to Poolbeg Street Inbound Normal route to Camden Street, Hatch Street, Earlsfort Terrace, Stephens Green, right onto Hume Street, Merrion Square West and Poolbeg Street.

Route 77A – To Citywest, normal route to Pearse street, Westland Road, St Stephens Green, Cuffe Street, Kevins Street, and back on normal route from Cork Street.

Route 77A – To Ringsend normal route to Cork Street, divert to Kevin Street, Cuffe Street, St Stephens Green, Westland Road, Pearse Street, right on Westland Row and back onto normal route.

Route 80 From Liffey Valley, normal route to Arran Quay, right onto Bridge Street, left onto High St, straight to Lord Edward Street, Dame Street, right onto George’s Street and back on normal route.

Route 80 From Palmerston Park, normal route to Georges Street, left onto Dame Street, Lord Edward Street, High Street, right onto Bridge Street, left onto Ushers Quay and back on normal route.

Route F1/F2/F3 – Northbound: Normal route to Clanbrassil St then divert straight onto Patrick Street, left onto High Street, right onto Bridge Street, straight onto Church Street, right onto King Street, continue straight to Dorset Street and back to normal route.

Route F1/F2/F3 – Southbound: Normal route to Dorset Street, then divert straight to King Street, left for Church Street, straight to Bridge Street, left to High Street, right to Patrick Street, straight to Kevin Street and back on normal route.

Route G1 – From Red Cow: Normal route to Thomas Street then divert to Bridge Street, Cook Street and terminate.

Route G1 – To Red Cow: Depart Cook Street to Winetavern Street to Merchants Quay, Bridge Street, Thomas Street and normal route.

Route G2 – From Liffey Valley: Normal route to Thomas Street then divert to Bridge Street, Cook Street and terminate.

Route G2 – To Liffey Valley: Depart Cook Street to Winetavern Street to Merchants Quay, Bridge Street, Thomas Street and normal route.

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Disruptions still in place on Green line Luas

Green line services are currently not operating between St Stephen’s Green and Dominick.

Services are running between Broombridge and Dominick and St. Stephen’s Green and Brides Glen.

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A number of disruptions have been made to Bus Éireann services across the country.

For more, click here.

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TII announce motorway closures

In a post on X, TII has announced the following full road closures on motorways.

M50:

• M50 between J06 – BLANCHARDSTOWN and J05 – FINGLAS direction northbound
• M50 between J05 – FINGLAS and J06 – BLANCHARDSTOWN direction southbound

N4:

• N4 J01 – M50 Interchange direction eastbound Slip to City and M50 northbound

M7:

• M7 between J16 – PORTLAOISE and J17 – PORTLAOISE direction both
• M7 between J29 – M7/N24 and J30 – M7/N18/M20 direction both

M8:

• M8 J09 – CASHEL(SOUTH) direction northbound
• M8 J06- Arbourhill and J09 Owen and Biggs Lot- direction southbound

M18:

• M18/N18 J11 – DROMOLAND direction both
• M18/N18 J13 – TULLA direction northbound
• M18/N18 between J02 – DOCK and J01 – ROSSBRIEN direction southbound
• M18/N18 J14 – BAREFIELD direction southbound Slip R458 to M18
• M18/N18 between J15 – CRUSHEEN and J14 – BAREFIELD direction southbound

M20:

• M20/N20 between J04 – PATRICKSWELL and J03 – RAHEEN direction northbound

It added that significant delays to your journey are likely to occur and asked drivers to please use a different route for your journey.

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Gardaí declare ‘exceptional event’

Ministers said the Irish Defence Forces are “on standby” to help An Garda Síochána, remove blockades at critical infrastructure.

It is understood An Garda Síochána has declared an “exceptional event”, allowing it to designate every member available for duty over the weekend, as a result of the protests in agreement with Garda associations.

Under the declaration, Gardaí can be prevented from taking leave and other exceptional measures can be used to ensure sufficient staffing. – Press Association

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Fuel protest enters fifth day

The Government is to re-enter talks on Saturday aimed at defusing protests which have strangled the distribution of fuel around the country.

A series of protests, which have involved blockades at key fuel distribution sites, are continuing for a fifth consecutive day after a crunch meeting on Friday failed to end with concrete proposals.

Protesters say the Government needs to take urgent action on fuel prices or they will go out of business.

There were fears that around a third of Ireland’s 1,500 filling stations would have run dry by morning as protesters engaged in a blockade of the country’s only oil refinery in Whitegate, Co Cork, as well as key depots in Galway and Foynes, Co Limerick.

There have also been concerns about fuel shortages leading to curtailments on the provision of emergency services and the delivery of vital goods – while the National Emergency Coordination Group urged the public to only buy the fuel they need.

Government ministers engaged with some of these groups on Friday but a spokesman for the protesters expressed “devastation” that they were excluded from the meeting.

A commitment from the coalition on Friday night to deliver a “substantial” package of measures on fuel costs was not enough to dissuade protesters from continuing blockades.

Talks between Government departments and representative bodies are set to continue at lunchtime on Saturday, with a view to finalising what Tánaiste Simon Harris said would be “substantial and significant” measures for affected industries. – Press Association

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