Ireland faces severe situation over fuel protests: PM
Protesters in Ireland demanding the government take action against rising fuel prices blocked a port, fuel terminal and oil refinery with tractors and trucks for a fourth day, prompting the prime minister to warn the country may have to dial back fuel deliveries.
Blockades of Irish oil infrastructure triggered by a more than 20 percent increase in diesel prices since the start of the US-Iran war have created a very serious situation that will damage the economy, Micheal Martin said on Friday.
The Irish Fuels Industry Group said more than 100 petrol stations had run out of fuel and that number could rise to 500 by Friday evening.
“The situation is very serious right now. I don’t think people there are aware of the seriousness of the situation,” Martin said in an interview with RTE. he said.
“We are now on the precipice of moving oil away from the country,” he said, citing a tanker that failed to unload at Galway Port and the halt of refining at the Whitegate oil refinery near Cork.
“It’s illogical, it’s illogical, it’s hard to understand.”
Martin said the police and military were on hand to clear protests if necessary and that “the law will be clearly enforced.”
However, he also called for dialogue to solve the problem.
Delivery firm DPD said it suspended its services in Ireland on Saturday due to protests.
The government last month announced a 250 million euro ($A414 million) package to temporarily cut taxes on petrol and diesel to ease the knock-on cost of conflict in the Middle East, but protesters have called for stronger measures, including a price ceiling.
