Fuel protests across Ireland continued for a fourth day on Friday, with petrol and diesel supplies at Irish forecourts under threat of running dry.
Hauliers and agricultural contractors began a series of protests on Tuesday, which have grown from slow-moving convoys on Dublin’s M50 to blockades of fuel depots that supply half the country.
That has raised concern over panic buying at forecourts, some of which have run out of fuel, as well as impacts on emergency services and deliveries of key supplies for animal welfare on farms.
Below is the latest information on the protests on Friday, including road closures, public transport disruption and fuel supply issues.
RM Block
Dublin city centre
Fuel protests and road blockades are continuing on Friday in central Dublin.
Traffic is passing on both ends of O’Connell Bridge, with cars travelling along the two quays unimpeded. However, several trucks have pulled up onto the bridge, blocking any traffic from crossing the river.
The southbound lane of the bridge is open to traffic passing towards D’Olier Street. Westmoreland Street remains partially closed with traffic diverted, as the northbound lane of the bridge remains closed.
Roads and motorways
Fuel protests on a range of national routes are causing disruption for motorists in counties Clare, Limerick, Tipperary, Laois, Kilkenny, Westmeath, Carlow, Offaly, Kildare, Louth, Galway, Cork and Dublin.
In Dublin, the M50 is blocked in both directions between junctions 6 (Blanchardstown) and junction 5 (Finglas).
The M1 is blocked northbound at junction 18, which is the Carlingford exit.
In Co Kildare, the N7/M7 is closed in both directions near Kill between junction 7 (Kill) and junction 8 (Johnstown Kill) The M9 is blocked between junctions 2 and 4.
The M7 remains closed at Portlaoise in both directions.
The M8 is blocked in both directions around Cashel, Co Tipperary – between junctions 6 and 9 southbound, and junctions 9 and 7 northbound. There are also closures on the M8 near Cahir.
In Limerick the M7 is blocked at Annacotty in both directions. The M20 is closed northbound between junctions 4 and 3.
The M18/N18 is closed northbound and southbound between Dromonland and Newmarket-on-Fergus and northbound between Ennis and Tulla in Co Clare.
In Co Westmeath, the M6/N6 is blocked at junction 8 near Athlone, while the M4/N4 is closed at junction 14 near Mullingar.
In Co Kilkenny, the M9 is blocked northbound at junction 9.
On the M4/N4 there are blockages in both directions between junction 15 (Marlinstown) and junction 17 (Culleen Beg). Eastbound, the road is blocked between Leixlip and Lucan.
On Friday, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) spokesperson Sean O’Neill renewed call for protesters to stay out of the hard shoulder: “Lives depend on it now”.
He noted, however, that since calls were issued by a number of State and healthcare bodies, that there has been less disruption with protesters giving improved access to the hard shoulders for emergency services.
TII said its network operations are working closely with the Garda in managing the disruption. It said traffic levels are lower so far on Friday compared to previous days this week.
TII has advised commuters to visit traffic.tii.ie for live updates on the impact across the national road/motorway network.
Public transport
Luas
Luas Green Line services are currently not operating in Dublin city centre, between St Stephen’s Green and Dominick Street. Services are operating between Broombridge and Dominick Street and between St Stephen’s Green and Brides Glen only.
Luas Red Line services are operating as normal on Friday.
Dublin Bus
The bus network in the capital is experiencing more disruptions and delays on Friday.
Most express services to the city centre were cancelled on Friday, and other cross-city bus services are continuing to be diverted and are using different termini.
The full list of cancellations, route diversions and termini changes can be found here.
Bus Éireann
Bus Éireann services continue to be significantly impacted on Friday due to the fuel protests.
The operator said it has deployed additional staff at key locations to assist customers and to maintain service as best as possible.
Bus Éireann is updating its list of cancelled or delayed services by region:
Rosslare
Protesters close to Rosslare Europort were served with a section 8 of the Public Order Act by gardaí on Thursday night.
Social media footage late on Thursday showed officers warning protesters they could be arrested if they did not peacefully disperse from an area near the port in Co Wexford.
Gardaí posted on social media on Friday morning and said “critical deliveries” left the port overnight after “positive and constructive engagement with local protesters” during the fuel demonstrations.
Fuel blockades and supply issues
Protesters have restricted access to a major oil refinery in Whitegate, Co Cork, as well as fuel depots in Galway city and Foynes, Co Limerick.
It has raised concern over panic buying at petrol stations. In Co Kilkenny, numerous filling stations have reported they have no fuel left following a surge in motorists panic buying.
A leading industry representative warned that the number of forecourts running dry would get “much, much worse” from Thursday evening’s position of affected service stations being in the “low double digits”.
[ ‘It’s blackmailing society’: How fuel protests are impacting IrelandOpens in new window ]
Fuels For Ireland chief executive Kevin McPartlan said “panic buying has absolutely taken hold” and warned that “real significant life-death problems are going to be caused” with fuel supplies to emergency service vehicles under threat.
The State’s emergency planning group echoed the comments with “serious concern”, saying there may be an impact on availability for some vital services, supply chains and public transport.
The National Emergency Co-ordination Group said the State’s overall fuel supplies remain “robust and resilient” but said the obstruction of key routes from ports is threatening the provision of animal feed supplies, fertiliser and other vital materials, resulting in potential animal welfare issues and a threat to livelihoods in the agriculture sector.
