Fuel protests: Close to 600 of 1,500 filling stations have run dry
By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association
10am
Around 600 of the 1,500 filling stations around Ireland have run dry, according to an industry representative.
Fuels for Ireland chief executive Kevin McPartlan said he expects the number “will grow quite dramatically” if ongoing blockades of fuel depots remain in place.
Asked on RTÉ 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.”
There are fears that around a third of Ireland’s 1,500 filling stations could run dry by Saturday 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 in the provision of emergency services and the delivery of vital goods. At the same time, the National Emergency Coordination Group urged the public to buy only 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.
Here is the latest information on motorway closures from TII Traffic:
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
Significant delays to your journey are likely to occur. Please use a different route for your journey.
Protesters say the Government needs to take urgent action on fuel prices or they will go out of business
Taoiseach Micheál Martin warned that Ireland is on the “precipice of turning oil away from the country”, describing the situation as “unconscionable”, “illogical”, and “difficult to comprehend”.
The protests, which have also seen slow-moving convoys and outright stoppages on major motorways as well as a blockade on Dublin city’s main thoroughfare, began on Tuesday over the cost of fuel.
Participants include professional drivers, farmers, hauliers, and taxi and bus operators.
Many official representative groups recognised by the Government have expressed sympathy with the cause but have said they have not been involved in organising the protests.
Meanwhile, ministers said the Irish Defence Forces are “on standby” to help the Irish police service, An Garda Siochana, remove blockades at critical infrastructure.
An Garda Siochana internally declared an “exceptional event”, allowing it to designate every member available for duty over the weekend.
