LIMERICK commuters and motorists are facing a third day of protests today following local and nationwide protests in response to the rising cost of fuel due to the war in Iran.
A portaloo was delivered along the M7 motorway outside Limerick yesterday, with many fuel protesters sleeping overnight. Meanwhile, scenes of tractors and truck drivers at a standstill across some of Limerick’s main commuter roads have also been commonplace across the week.
And at the time of this newspaper going to print, protestors were also blocking access to fuel terminals including Foynes Port in County Limerick.
As well as causing traffic and public transport chaos, protestors blocked access to fuel terminals in Foynes and Galway.
Bus Éireann also confirmed on Wednesday the cancellation of several routes including the 55 Waterford to Limerick and Charleville to Limerick.
The protests are being organised by a group of professional drivers, hauliers, farmers, bus operators, taxi drivers, and plant operators under the banner of The People of Ireland Against Fuel Prices Protest.
In a statement issued on the group’s Facebook page, they said “ordinary people can no longer carry the burden of crippling fuel prices, rising costs and endless taxes”.
“We are asking everyone who is not driving in the convoys to come out and support us from bridges, roadsides, town approaches, and safe public areas, waving Irish flags in solidarity”.
While scenes of overwhelming support for the protests have been seen on the ground by passersby, concerns have also been raised regarding access for emergency services and people trying to attend appointments.
Commenting online, one Limerick Post reader said he had “no issue with a protest, no issue with why. I have a big issue with the whole country at a standstill.”
“People going to hospital appointments, schools, jobs. I saw some frightened old folks stuck on a motorway today. A go slow to Dublin yes, but to gridlock the country?”
“If you protest about fuel prices, don’t do so while 100,000s of cars etc are sitting there burning their diesel and petrol. By the way your own bills have run up, your diesel has run down and the Government has all that extra fuel excise. An Irish solution to an Irish problem,” he added.
Another reader wrote that “nothing will change if we don’t stand up. The fuel costs affect every person in Ireland.”
“I hope the non-effective Government we have actually does something and takes note.”
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has criticised the manner in which the demonstrations are taking place, saying there is “no justification whatsoever for the protests”.
“To prevent mobility, to prevent people from accessing livelihoods, medical appointments, disrupting day-to-day activities in the manner that has happened is wrong and is a wrong form of protest, and in my view is not conducive to cohesion within our society or to resolving issues in a satisfactory manner,” the Taoiseach said.
“There’s no justification whatsoever for blockading fuel depots. It runs counter to what everybody wants, which is access to fuel on a timely basis.
“We respect people’s right to protest and so there’s always a balance initially in terms of how that is policed. But what is not acceptable is people declaring that we will turn O’Connell Street in Dublin into a car park.”
The Taoiseach also said that anyone who parks their truck in the middle of any street will face penalties.
Members of the opposition have taken a different stance, showing their support for the protestors.
Independent Ireland TD for County Limerick, Richard O’Donoghue, hit back at the Taoiseach’s comments, saying that it’s not the people of Ireland who are wrong, but members of Government.
Reacting to the Taoiseach’s remarks on his Facebook page, Deputy O’Donoghue said: “Is it because they’re so far out of touch with reality they don’t realise the people of Ireland that are suffering, trying to buy groceries at the end of the week to feed their family, trying to put fuel in their cars to get to work and what do the Government do? They reward you by taxing you on an inflation tax on fuel to charge you another tax. So this is the real people of Ireland.”
Deputy O’Donoghue continued: “Let’s see you try to make ends meet at the end of the week like everybody in Ireland at the moment. No matter what age you are, you are trying to make ends meet because of the inflated tax by your government.”
An Garda Síochána also issued a statement regarding the protests, confirming they have received reports of emergency workers being delayed or not being able to travel to work, and of people not being able to attend hospital appointments or visit loved ones who are ill.
They are requesting that protestors engage with them locally to facilitate import diversions and emergency routes.
Demonstrations began on main routes on the outskirts of Limerick City at 8am this past Tuesday morning. Affected routes include Beary’s Cross to Ballysimon the N24, Daly’s Cross to Annacotty on the Old Dublin Road, Croom to Patrickswell on the M20, and Bunratty Village in County Clare towards the N18.
Since the protest began, multiple closures have been reported on the M7 between Junction 2 on the Dock Road (N20/M20) and Junction 29 on the Ballysimon Road.
There was also gridlock approaching the Mackey roundabout with M7 closed at Castletroy junction southbound and on the N18 and through Patrickswell.