The Irish Government has confirmed that a fuel support package is being finalized after a day of what they described as constructive engagement with representatives of the haulage and farming sectors.
The move came as travel across parts of the Republic of Ireland was affected for the fourth day in a row as slow-moving convoys made up of vehicles, including tractors, blocked roads in protest against high fuel prices caused by the US-Israeli war against Iran.
Irish ministers had said earlier on Friday that no further package of support measures would be announced until fuel protesters ended their blockades around the country.
Meetings between Irish ministers and stakeholders are expected to continue over the weekend.
Tánaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) and Finance Minister Simon Harris said that there will be a substantial and significant package of support for key sectors of the economy. Speaking to Irish broadcaster RTÉ, Harris said the talks were going well, adding that further intensive engagement into the weekend was likely.
However, he added: The blockade has to end. Earlier, Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micheál Martin said that the blockades mean the country is on the precipice of turning oil away from the country amidst a global oil supply crisis.
There were long queues on the M1, heading towards the border with Northern Ireland, due to protesters closing the motorway at Dundalk, with vehicles blocking both lanes at the Carlingford turnoff, RTÉ reported.
The National Emergency Coordination Group (NECG) stated fuel supplies for emergency response vehicles, including the ambulance service and fire service, are under increasing pressure. They emphasized that these vehicles rely on retail fuel forecourts for their fuel supply through the use of fuel cards.
Following a meeting on Friday, the Irish ministers for health issued a joint statement calling on the protesters to reflect on their actions and cease the restriction of access to critical fuel infrastructure immediately. They referred to the serious risks to patient safety caused by the blockade as completely unacceptable.
Kildare farmer John Dallon stated the protests could continue for maybe for another week, maybe two weeks. He expressed hope that government proposals to address high fuel costs would resolve the crisis.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald criticized the government for locking protesters out of talks, stating that they were escalating the crisis.
Many drivers continue to report difficulties in accessing fuel, leading to increasing frustration among citizens, including those reliant on vehicles for work and medical appointments.
Mary Burke, who manages a service station, voiced concerns over fuel supply shortages, highlighting that deliveries are consumed quickly, often leaving customers without fuel for extended periods. With transport infrastructure affected nationwide, including motorway closures, locals are urged to plan alternate routes and allow extra time for commutes.
The protests stem from a surge in fuel prices due to complications in the Middle East, with diesel prices nearly doubling in recent weeks.
