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Irish govt set to hold emergency meeting over fuel cost protests

by Agence France-Presse - AFP

LONDON Apr 12, 2026 - 4:24 pm GMT+3
A man crosses a road where vehicles are parked on O'Connell Street, on the second day of a national fuel protest against rising fuel prices, Dublin, Ireland,  April 8, 2026. (AP Photo)
A man crosses a road where vehicles are parked on O'Connell Street, on the second day of a national fuel protest against rising fuel prices, Dublin, Ireland, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo)
by Agence France-Presse - AFP Apr 12, 2026 4:24 pm

The Irish government was expected to hold an emergency Cabinet meeting on Sunday to sign off on measures aimed at ending fuel cost protests, which have lasted for days and have endangered the functioning of the country's emergency services.

Hauliers and agricultural contractors began a series of protests on Tuesday over rising petrol and diesel prices amid the Middle East war.

Since then, the protests have grown from slow-moving convoys on motorways and restricted access to Dublin's busiest streets to a partial blockade of Ireland's only oil refinery and restricted access to at least two other fuel depots.

Finance Minister Simon Harris said later on Saturday that ministers had held meetings with transport and agriculture sector representatives ahead of Sunday's meeting.

The government was in the process of "finalizing a significant support package to address the ongoing crisis," a government statement added.

Some protests rolled into a sixth day on Sunday.

The government has urged the public not to panic buy as pumps at many fuel stations have run dry.

Police on Saturday, with the support of the armed forces, deployed public order units to clear the blockade at Whitegate Refinery in southern Ireland.

Irish police chief Justin Kelly said the action was taken as a last resort.

The blockading of "critical national infrastructure" had "resulted in fuel shortages that are directly impacting emergency services such as hospitals, the ambulance service, and the fire service," he said.

Elsewhere, police dismantled a makeshift barrier erected by protesters blockading western Galway docks.

A late-night operation also targeted the blockade of Dublin's main thoroughfare, O'Connell Street, after multiple vehicles, including tractors and trucks were removed.

Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan said earlier that the continuation of the protests despite the increasingly difficult situation had been "unacceptable."

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

In March, Dublin announced a 250 million euro (around $293 million) package to reduce fuel costs.

There were now the "bones of an agreement" with the government, the president Ger Hyland of the Irish Road Haulage Association said on Saturday.

"It is a substantial package, and we hope to have this over the line either late tonight or tomorrow," he added.

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