Irish Government Convenes Amid Fuel Crisis Protests

Sun Apr 12 2026 01:50:09 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The Irish cabinet meets to address a severe fuel shortage exacerbated by ongoing protests, raising public safety concerns and government action.

In response to widespread fuel shortages and ongoing protests, the Taoiseach has announced a cabinet meeting to discuss the crisis. Over 200 petrol stations have run dry as protests, involving slow-moving convoys, enter their fifth day. Tensions escalated with police involvement and calls for negotiations between the government and protesters. The situation, worsened by rising global oil prices and geopolitical tensions, has become increasingly critical for public services and transport.

Irish Government Convenes Amid Fuel Crisis Protests

The Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) has said a cabinet meeting will be held on Sunday where an update on the ongoing fuel crisis talks will be given.

Hundreds of petrol stations in the Republic of Ireland have run out of fuel as the protests and blockades - involving slow-moving convoys made up of vehicles including tractors - continued for a fifth day.

Meetings between government ministers and representatives of farmers and hauliers to finalise a new government funding package have been ongoing since Friday.

On Saturday, fuel trucks regained access to an oil refinery in County Cork that had been subjected to a days-long blockade. Protesters who had been blocking trucks leaving the Whitegate Refinery were pushed back by gardaí (Irish police) using pepper spray, in an operation supported by the Irish Defence Forces.

The Garda Commissioner stated that a number of arrests were made during the operation, emphasizing that the blockades are illegal and not a legitimate form of protest. Commissioner Justin Kelly warned that warnings were ignored, and blockaders had been given a fair notice before enforcement actions were taken.

The ongoing protests have implications far beyond simply the fuel sector; Tom Curran, harbour master at Rosslare Europort, warned that they may have to turn away ferries due to a road blockade outside the facility. This situation is exacerbated by public transport disruptions, with services suspended and significant delays reported in Dublin.

Meanwhile, the National Emergency Coordination Group (NECG) noted that supplies for emergency response vehicles are under increasing pressure due to the protests.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin remarked that the blockades put Ireland at risk during a global oil supply crisis, while Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald criticized the government, stating it allowed the situation to escalate and urged negotiations with the protesters.

Why are the protests taking place?

The protests were triggered by rapid price increases in petrol and diesel following the conflict in the Middle East, which has disrupted a significant portion of the oil trade worldwide. Prices for diesel in Ireland have jumped from €1.70 (£1.48) to €2.17 (£1.89) and petrol prices are also escalating. The protests have been ongoing since Tuesday morning, coinciding with a substantial logistic disruption across various sectors.