Fuel-price protests cause chaos in Ireland and spread to Norway | Ireland
Protests over fuel prices caused chaos in Ireland and spread to Norway due to the impact of conflicts in the Middle East.
People have been urged to buy only the fuel they need as 100 fuel stations in Ireland have run out, and the National Emergency Coordination Group warned on Friday the number could rise to 500.
Haulers, farmers and other groups blocked highways and brought parts of Dublin to a standstill for a fourth straight day of protest on Friday, fueled by clashes.
In Ireland, protests led to fuel shortages and travel disruption, and in Norway, truck drivers taking part in a “diesel roar” protest flocked to the capital. The Irish government has put the army on standby to help lift the blockades, and police have warned some protesters to disperse or risk arrest, prompting defiance and threats that disruption would continue for weeks if necessary.
Police force An Garda Síochána said the protests were endangering critical supplies of food, fuel, clean water and animal feed. “This is unacceptable and against the law.” Government leaders accused protesters of holding the country “to ransom.”
The blockade of ports and a refinery meant Ireland was on the verge of being turned away from oil deliveries and losing its supply (the taoiseach). Micheál Martin told RTÉ. “This is illogical, illogical.”
Despite the government’s mitigating measures, the price of diesel has risen from 1.70 euros to 2.17 euros per liter in recent weeks, and the price of gasoline has risen from 1.74 euros to 1.97 euros.
A meeting between ministers and representative bodies from the transport and agriculture sectors on Friday ended without a decision, and ongoing talks without the participation of protesters will continue on Saturday.
Ireland’s deputy prime minister, Simon Harris, said it would be a “significant and significant” support package for “key sectors of the economy”.
Harris said talks between the government and representative bodies in the farming and transport sectors were “going well”, adding that “heavy engagement” was likely to continue towards the weekend.
Speaking to RTÉ News, he said: “The blockade has to end.”
But Christopher Duffy, a spokesman for the protest in Dublin, said the action would continue until details emerged of a “significant reduction in our costs”.
Justice secretary Jim O’Callaghan said “external actors” such as British far-right activist Tommy Robinson were manipulating the protests for their own agendas.
In the last elections held in Denmark, the far-right Danish People’s Party tried to take advantage of discontent by paying voters for gas.
A surge in oil prices since the United States and Israel began attacking Iran on February 28 has rattled global markets and triggered objections from consumers and businesses who want governments to do more to soften the blow.
While some countries made temporary reductions in fuel taxes, others considered rationing by taking measures to restrict demand. The Philippines declared a “national energy emergency.” Authorities in France sought to prevent widespread shortages on Friday by announcing that fuel tankers would be allowed to ply on weekends and public holidays until May 11.
In Norway, protesters led a convoy of trucks to parliament in Oslo on Friday. Approximately 70-80 trucks had banners saying “Some of them”.no no!“(Enough already!) joined another group known as Dieselbrølet (diesel roar). Only a handful of people were allowed into the capital.
Norway cut fuel taxes on April 1, but shippers say they need more predictable and lower prices. Despite being an oil producer, fuel prices in Norway have increased since the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The Norwegian Statistical Institute said fuel and lubricant prices increased by 17.9% from February to March, while diesel prices increased by 23.6% during this period.
A spokesman for Statistics Norway said it had never recorded such a sharp monthly increase in fuel prices using the CPI inflation index. “We last saw something similar in the spring of 2022, following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, but in this case the price increase occurred for two consecutive months.”
Last month the Irish government announced a €250 million package of measures to reduce fuel costs, including a temporary excise tax cut, an expansion of the diesel rebate scheme for hauliers and bus operators and an extension of the fuel rebate.
Blockades of Ireland’s only oil refinery in Whitegate, County Cork, and fuel depots in Galway City and Foynes in County Limerick have disrupted deliveries. Dozens of forecourts dried up and warnings were issued as motorists rushed to fill up with petrol and diesel.
Tractors and other vehicles blocked motorways and O’Connell Street, Dublin’s main street. The Medical Organization of Ireland said slowing emergency department response times and missing healthcare appointments would harm patients’ welfare. Shipping company DPD has suspended deliveries.
Spokesperson John Dallon told RTÉ that protesters were prepared to remain in the capital for weeks. “We are ready to sit here if it takes a month,” he said.
He accused the government of ignoring the plight of people who face hardship and devastation due to fuel costs. “How dare they say that protesters are holding the country to ransom? It is the government that is holding this country to ransom, not the protesters.”
The Taoiseach postponed his trade mission to Canada to deal with the crisis.
