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Talks to resume tomorrow as fuel blockades continue, Tánaiste promises 'substantial' fuel package

IFA president Francie Gorman said after today’s meeting the government needs to be ‘a lot more proactive’.
6.46am, 10 Apr 2026
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LAST UPDATE | 10 Apr

IT’S DAY FOUR of ongoing protests over the government’s response to rising fuel prices.

Hereare the main developments:

With updates from Andrew Walsh, Jane Moore, Mairead Maguire, Stephen McDermott, Jane Matthews, Sophie Finn and David Mac Redmond.

10 Apr 7:16AM

Good morning! 

The Journal team is here to bring you updates throughout the day on the fuel protests and the government’s response.

Already this morning, there is a full road closure in place on the M50 northbound after Junction 6 (Blanchardstown), with motorists warned to expect long delays.

Traffic is also slow moving on the N1 close to the border in Co Louth due to a slow-moving convoy between Junction 20 (Jonesborough) and Junction 19 (Ravensdale).

Dublin Bus, meanwhile, said road closures remain in place this morning and it is experiencing “service disruptions” across the Dublin Bus network and passengers should allow additional travel time. 

10 Apr 7:31AM

A meeting is to be held by Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon and Minister of State Timmy Dooley today with a number of representative groups – and one of the top protest organisers says that he’ll also be in attendance.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Prime Time last night, Dooley confirmed that the meeting was taking place, though he did not clarify if the organisers of the protests are attending the meeting.

“I can only tell you the Government’s position, which is that we’re tomorrow, we’re meeting with representative groupings that have been invited,” Dooley said.

“Who those groups choose to bring with them is a matter for those representative bodies. So I don’t know.”

He added that the Government has issued invitations to the representative bodies to “continue the dialogue that started last week between Minister Heydon and the Tánaiste”.

“There were proposals put forward at that and that did include the IFA, the ICMSA, it included contractors, groupings and associations. My clear information is that it will be those groups who have been invited and will be in attendance,” Dooley added.

James Geoghegan, an agricultural contractor and one of the self-styled leaders of the protests, told Prime Time that the meeting will take place aty 2.30pm today, and seemed to imply that he would be in attendance.

10 Apr 7:36AM

Amid speculation about who will attend this afternoon’s meeting with the government, Ger Hyland, President of the Irish Road Haulage Association, told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that he didn’t know whether anyone representing protesters would be there.

But he said his group – one of those meeting with the government – would be available to talk to the protesters beforehand.

“There’s two people from our association going to this meeting today, and before we go to that meeting, we are available to meet some of the protesters,” Hyland said.

“Who goes to a government meeting? I can’t decide who I bring in and who I won’t. That is a decision for government, who they bring to any meeting.”

10 Apr 7:38AM

Dublin Bus has said that a number of services have been cancelled or diverted this morning as a result of road closures. They’ve shared a full list of affected services on their website here.

10 Apr 7:39AM

Elsewhere, the Luas says that there are still no Green Line services between Stephen’s Green and Dominick Street.

However, Red Line services are operating as normal.

10 Apr 7:40AM

Fuels For Ireland chief executive Kevin McPartland said yesterday that “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.

Ireland’s emergency planning group echoed the comments with “serious concern”, saying there may be an impacts on availability for some vital services, supply chains and public transport.

The National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) said the country’s’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.

10 Apr 7:47AM

David McRedmond, CEO of An Post, said that while there has been some disruption to the postal service, the fact that most of their work is done at night means clogged roads each day haven’t affected them significantly.

“I’m really happy to say we’re pretty much hitting all of our targets,” he told Newstalk.

10 Apr 8:00AM

IFA President Gorman said they still believe the carbon tax should be suspended.

“The government said that they’re not going to act on the carbon tax. I think they’re wrong,” he said.

Gorman said the protests have “maybe strengthened” the IFA’s position as they continue talks with government about other issues affecting the industry. However, he said most protesters are not members of the IFA.

“The asks of the protesters that are out at the moment initially was ‘give us a meeting, and and we’ll go home’,” he said.

“We had a meeting on 1 April, and we went in with the Farm Contractors’ Association of Ireland, and we put forward our asks. We waited eight days, nine days now, and we still haven’t got a response to the proposals that we send in.”

10 Apr 8:11AM

An Garda Síochána said in a statement on its socials that it will continue to manage the demonstrations today “to facilitate peaceful protest while protecting public safety”.

“In line with our tradition of policing by consent, we have been operating on the basis of the 4Es: Engage, Explain, Encourage & Enforce.”

It said gardaí has had “positive and constructive engagement with local protestors”, and critical deliveries were able to leave Rosslare Europort overnight.

10 Apr 8:13AM

The Department of Agriculture has provided a list of groups that will be at this afternoon’s meeting – and none of the protest groups are on it.

The groups listed include the Irish Road Haulage Association, the Irish Creamery Milk Supplier Association, the Irish Natural & Hill Farmers Association, the Irish Farmers Association, Macra na Feirme, Ibec, the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS), Irish Grain Growers, Farm Contractors Ireland and the Irish Grain & Feed Association.

10 Apr 8:16AM

If you want real-time updates on which roads are experiencing the most congestion today, you can use Transport Infrastructure live map.

It outlines all the incidents, roadworks and congestion spots across the country.

The traffic map can be accessed here and TII have advised that the protest is “mobile at times and can impact different regions at different times”.

Screenshot 2026-04-10 081510 TII TII

10 Apr 8:24AM

James Geoghegan, a spokesperson for the protesters, has also been out on Newstalk’s Anton Savage Show this morning – and he claims he’s been invited to this afternoon’s meeting.

He claims that he was invited to the meeting by a Fianna Fáil TD – something that’s been denied by government sources.

Geoghegan also says that the protesters won’t stop even if they get a meeting, despite groups saying all week that this was one of their main demands.

Asked what the protesters’ new demands are, Geoghegan initially said they were “confidential”.

However, he later said protesters were seeking five new demands.

They include a meeting with Minister for Finance Simon Harris, the abolition of the carbon tax, a cap on agricultural fuels, and the re-opening of oil exploration off the west coast of Ireland.

Geoghegan also said protesters wanted the Dáil recalled this evening so they can rubber-stamp these demands once they’re negotiated.

10 Apr 8:26AM

Fianna Fáil TD John Connolly, who James Geoghegan claimed invited protest groups to the meeting with the government, has now popped up on the airwaves to deny this happened.

“I couldn’t do that,” he told Newstalk. “I wouldn’t have the authority.”

Connolly instead claims he advised protesters to bring their views to the Irish Road Haulage Association and that they could bring them to this afternoon’s meeting.

10 Apr 8:34AM

Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee reiterated that only established representative bodies have been asked to today’s meeting, but she doesn’t know “who they’re bringing”.

“Why are we not meeting with every protester, or why are we not engaging directly in that way?

“Government has to engage with people who are democratically elected to represent the people that they represent, whether it’s farmers, whether it’s farm contractors, whether it’s hauliers.”

Asked what her response is to the protesters’ demands, McEntee said she isn’t going to “negotiate on the airwaves”.

“There’s a lot of asks in there … what we want to do is reduce the pressure on people.”

10 Apr 8:37AM

Dublin Bus has said that “pretty much every” route will be affected by delays and diversions this morning.

They said there are 16 controllers working today, each of whom will make over 300 radio calls to drivers as they navigate the roads.

10 Apr 8:44AM

Minister Dara Calleary said the government likely won’t consider a fuel cap similar to what the UK did in 2022, when the war in Ukraine began. He said it had “disastrous outcomes”.

“For every proposal that has to be interrogated, the consequences of every proposal has to be looked at,” he told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland.

He said they “cannot have discussions or progress while fuel is being blockaded”.

10 Apr 8:46AM

“We don’t want to escalate this,” Minister Calleary said.

“We are reiterating that there needs to be an end to the blockades.

“People are under massive cost pressure. We do not want them to be under fuel supply pressure.

“That’s not necessary at a time when there’s sufficient fuel in the country, if it’s let out.”

10 Apr 8:50AM
Running out of fuel

Filling stations around the country are running out of fuel, or already have.

An estimated 250 forecourts are going to be empty by midday.

Our reporter Concubhar Ó Liatháin said Lucey’s Filling Station in Baile Mhic Íre/Ballymakeera, Co Cork, ran out of unleaded yesterday afternoon.   

According to local message boards, filling stations in Macroom were experiencing long queues last night and were saying they would soon be out of fuel.

10 Apr 8:59AM

One protester, Neilis O’Connor, said on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that he was told earlier there would be a representative at this afternoon’s meeting with ministers.

He was asked if he understands the holes in the argument to cap fuel prices, given that the government would then have to cover any amount in excess of the cap and companies could hike prices infinitely.

O’Connor said it was more unfair for the government to let companies fail due to rising fuel costs.

“Let’s all hope that the government will come to our senses and we can all go home this evening,” he said.

If they don’t, the protests will continue, he said.

10 Apr 9:01AM

Sean O’Neill of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) said there are “significant disruptions on the [roads] network”.

He told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that the latest issues are at Mullingar on the M4, Athlone on the M6, the M7 on Portlaoise, at Limerick leaving towards Dublin on the N20 and N21, and on the M8 from Cashel to Cahir.

10 Apr 9:07AM

Livedrive has given an updated list of roads blocked by protesters this morning.

10 Apr 9:20AM

Are you stuck in traffic, queuing at a filling station or disrupted by one of the blockades?

Send photos or videos of what you see to pictures@thejournal.ie. We may use them in the liveblog.

10 Apr 9:28AM

Photographers have been out capturing the scenes early this morning, from empty filling stations to protesters showing out even in the dark.

Irving Oil Refinery in Whitegate, Cork is one of the strongholds for protesters.

Fuel protest day four-5_90746392 Protestors gathered in the very early morning outside the Irving Oil Refinery in Whitegate, Co Cork RollingNews.ie RollingNews.ie

Fuel protest day four-6_90746391 Whitegate, Co Cork RollingNews.ie RollingNews.ie

Fuel protest day four-3_90746394 Empty fuel pumps in a service station forecourt outside Whitegate, Co Cork RollingNews.ie RollingNews.ie

Fuel protest day four-7_90746390 A garda car passes protestors outside the Irving Oil Refinery in Whitegate, Co Cork RollingNews.ie RollingNews.ie

10 Apr 9:34AM

Our News Correspondent Niall O’Connor has the latest from Whitegate, where protesters are maintaining their blockade at Irving Oil Refinery.

10 Apr 9:39AM

The Monaghan Town bypass is blocked by protests, County Councillor Alan Johnston has said.

“This is despite assurances last night that the protest would end at 4am,” he wrote in a Facebook post.

“While the vast majority of people, me included, agree that cost pressures are affecting certain sectors, unauthorised illegal blockage of national roads & critical infrastructure is not the way forward,” the Fine Gael councillor said.

He said now that the government has agreed to meet industry groups, protesters should allow the roads to open.

“People are being blocked from getting to critical hospital appointments, travel for dialysis, cancer treatments, surgeries. Workers are being blocked from getting to work,” said Johnston.

10 Apr 9:44AM

The protesters on the M50 don’t appear to be moving any time soon and, by the looks of it, they might not need to.

One groupchat was told a portaloo had been acquired.

IMG_9644

10 Apr 9:49AM

Minister Peter Burke has taken issue with protesters asserting that the government is “profiting” off the fuel crisis.

“If we look at the facts, the government has reduced excise by 20 cent per litre of diesel. It’s reduced the NORA levy completely, which is two cents,” Burke told David McCullagh on RTÉ.

“[They] have a VAT of 23% on them. For diesel, that’s a five cent sacrifice.

“Right now, for every litre that goes out of the forecourts of diesel, government is losing 27 cent. It has made that decision to support people.”

10 Apr 9:53AM

At Whitegate refinery in Cork, a meeting between protesters and gardaí appears to have been unsuccessful.

10 Apr 10:07AM

A report by the consumer protection watchdog released yesterday said that fuel prices have been “driven by increases in wholesale costs”, not price gouging by individual companies.

The price of home heating oil rose by 67.5% in the month between February and March and went up by 63.3% in the last year.

Though the CCPC identified “a small number of questionable consumer protection practices” they “have not seen price increases that are in breach of any law”.

Fuels for Ireland CEO Kevin McPartlan welcomed the report’s findings, saying: “We are a price taker, not a price setter.”

Separately, he told RTÉ that there is “no shortage of fuel” and that it is “frustrating” to hear of panic buying.

“We have normal stock levels, we have our normal capacity for deliveries.

“And yet those deliveries have been prevented because there are blockades on three key infrastructure sites, which provide about 50% of the fuel in the country.”

10 Apr 10:10AM

The Journal’s Niall O’Connor has an update on the scene at Whitegate refinery in Cork, after protesters spoke to gardaí.

10 Apr 10:25AM
Protests affecting elderly people

The Irish Senior Citizens Parliament (ISCP) has called for “immediate and meaningful dialogue” between the government and protesters, as they say the traffic and blockades are harming the elderly.

“The ISCP has received numerous reports from members unable to access essential services,” it said.

Hospital and GP appointments are inaccessible for some due to disruption to public transport, and carers areunable to get to the homes of service users, leaving some older people without support.

Meanwhile, Nursing Homes Ireland is calling for immediate measures from the government to make sure essential workers can access fuel and get to work.

10 Apr 10:30AM

Heading on your holidays? Not so fast.

Dublin Airport has advised passengers travelling to and from the airport today to allow extra time for their journey due to the fuel protests clogging the roads.

It advised people to use live traffic apps to identify the best or quickest route.

10 Apr 10:35AM

The Garda Public Order Unit has just arrived at Whitegate, where roughly 150 protesters continue to blockade the oil refinery with 30 or so vehicles.

Around 12 public order vehicles and patrol cars were deployed from Limerick and other parts of the souther region.

Gardaí are now moving in towards protesters.

10 Apr 10:40AM
O'Connell Street

O’Connell Street in Dublin is closed off to traffic again today, as tractors and lorries refuse to move.

Fuel protest day four-42_90746414 RollingNews.ie RollingNews.ie

Fuel protest day four-38_90746410 RollingNews.ie RollingNews.ie

Fuel protest day four-41_90746413 RollingNews.ie RollingNews.ie

10 Apr 10:51AM

The president of the Irish Medical Organisation has called for an immediate end to the fuel blockades.

Speaking at the IMO AGM, which is taking place this weekend in Killarney, Co Kerry, Professor Matthew Sadlier said that it was unacceptable that the disproportionate actions of a minority are having such a significant negative impact on patients.

“There should always be room for peaceful protest in this country, but not at the expense of patient welfare due to the deliberate targeting of critical infrastructure,” he said.

These blockades mean our emergency services are not currently able to respond as quickly as they ordinarily do, meaning patients will be delayed receiving urgent and, in many cases, life-saving treatment. This cannot continue.

Sadlier added that the knock-on impact on scheduled appointments would create added pressure on the healthcare system which is already struggling due to a lack of adequate resourcing.

“The ability of both patients and healthcare staff to actually get to healthcare appointments has been severely compromised by the blockades which will create major problems for the health system in the months to come at a time when we do not have enough staff to meet the demands of a growing and ageing population which requires ever more complex care.”

10 Apr 10:55AM

The latest from our reporter Niall O’Connor in Whitegate refinery, where the Public Order Unit has arrived. 

10 Apr 11:12AM

The Irish Co-operative Organisation Society, which represents co-ops across the country, has called for calm and measured judgement on all sides of the protest to allow space for dialogue to take place. 

“We have huge concerns for all sectors of the community during these uncertain times. Co-operatives and their members are massively exposed to increased fuel and energy costs,” said ICOS president Edward Carr.

Carr said the group will ask the government at this afternoon’s meeting to “continue to work to increase the level of supports”. 

“We request the government immediately and substantially to increase the flat rate addition for non-VAT registered farmers to compensate for the increased VAT associated with sky-high fuel prices.

The situation is critical and in particular, all ports must be freed up.

He said feed mills are shutting down due to lack of ingredients and diesel supplies are running out for hauliers and workers.

“The protesters have made their point with a maximum impact but they must also reflect very carefully on any extent to which the current levels of severe disruption could possibly continue.”

ICOS said the organisations it represents collectively generate around €16bn in turnover, with 175,000 members and 12,000 people employed in Ireland and 24,000 overseas.

10 Apr 11:19AM

The protests have been impacting people up and down the country over the last four days. 

One person that was left stranded on a motorway in Limerick yesterday was US reality TV star Abby Lee Miller, best known for the role on the show Dance Moms. 

According to Cork Beo, Miller was seen trying to reason with some of the protesters who were blocking the road. 

You can read the full story here.

10 Apr 11:21AM

Kerry LGFA has said that due to fuel shortages, all county underage activity and club fixtures scheduled for today, Saturday and Sunday have been postponed. 

The organisation said the ongoing protests “is placing significant pressure on players, parents, mentors, referees and volunteers across the country, and this decision has been made with the wellbeing of our community in mind”. 

10 Apr 11:25AM

This message has been shared and reshared in a number of protester groupchats this morning. 

Screenshot_20260410_110348_WhatsApp

10 Apr 11:34AM

Enterprise Minister Peter Burke said the government is expected to announce measures today to reduce inflation. 

He told RTÉ’s Today with David McCullagh there would be a “response” from the Irish government to rising prices since the outset of the US-Israel war on Iran.

“Hopefully today we will have news on that,” he said. 

“I do believe we will have news on that, in terms of an intervention that will reduce inflation, that will try and reduce the price of groceries on the shelves for our consumers, for vulnerable people buying them”.

Asked if this would be an announcement from Brussels or the Irish government, Burke said: “I’m talking about a response from the Irish Government trying to underwrite and support the production of food, trying to ensure the logistics of getting food on our shelves is supported, and ultimately keeping the price as low as possible.”

Burke also said the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris is working with EU colleagues for “flexibility” on excise duty rules.

He said European directives limit how much excise duty can be reduced and Ireland would need permission to go below those thresholds.

He also said there may be “state aid implications” for other measures the government is looking at to help the haulage and agriculture sectors and said Harris is “working, navigating through those barriers, trying to ensure that we do get a package”.

10 Apr 11:37AM

Our reporter Niall O’Connor has been speaking to Sinn Féin TD Pat Buckley outside Whitegate refinery in Cork. 

Buckley said it is “a bit of an unfortunate scene”, with gardaí and members of the Public Order Unit having arrived.

“This is about workers’ rights and making a stand,” he said. 

10 Apr 11:57AM

Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien has said government has been working on “an additional” fuel support scheme.

“We intend to go through some of those measures later today, but the blockades need to end and they need to end now,” he told Newstalk’s Claire Byrne Show. 

He said the concerns that many of the protesters have are the same concerns that have been raised through representative bodies like the IRHA and the IFA, who will be attending the meeting this afternoon.

When asked if any of the protesters would be in attendance at the meeting, O’Brien said he was “not going to dictate” who attends the meeting with the delegations. 

He said the situation is now “absolutely critical” and that while there is no issue with the overall fuel supply into the country, supply that is coming in “cannot be dispersed”.

“That’s affecting everyday life for businesses, for people, for hospitals, pharmacies, and that cannot be allowed to continue.”

10 Apr 12:11PM

Here’s how it looks outside the Whitegate refinery in Cork at the moment, courtesy of our man on the ground Niall O’Connor.

10 Apr 12:17PM

The Defence Forces has confirmed that a convoy of MOWAG tanks will be travelling from Cork City to the Curragh Camp in Co Kildare today as part of a “mission readiness” training exercise for UNIFIL officers ahead of a deployment to south Lebanon next month. 

The statement comes after videos of tanks in Limerick were shared on social media earlier this week with false claims that they were being used to move protesters. 

10 Apr 12:17PM
Package of measures being worked on

We’ve now had three ministers on the media rounds this morning saying that the government is working on something, but it’s not quite clear what exactly they are yet. 

It’s understood that that the coalition is working towards a package of measures, but it is unclear if anything will be announced today.

Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien confirmed to Newstalk’s Claire Byrne that they “are working through, and have been, an additional fuel support scheme”. 

He would not confirm what those might be, or indeed that there would be an announcement to follow, but he said they would be going through “some of the proposals that we have” with the groups.

“They’re along the lines of certain things that have that have been discussed and that we’ve been working on already, on that. And basically, we will go through them with the groups, seek their input, but what needs to happen now today is the blockades need to end.”

Fianna Fail senator Robbie Gallagher told Shannonside’s Joe Finnegan Show that he understands an announcement is due this evening “about what the next phase of measures will be to allievate the pressures on farmers, households and everyone in the country”. 

Earlier this morning, Enterprise Minister Peter Burke told RTÉ’s David McCullagh that the government would “hopefully” have news on an intervention that will “try and reduce the price of groceries on the shelves for our consumers.”

10 Apr 12:24PM

Other sources told The Journal that the meeting taking place with organisational groups today could take several hours, where it is expected a list of demands will be stated and discussed.

After that, depending on what is feasible, number crunching will take place behind the scenes, but they wouldn’t say if anything would be announced tonight.

The meeting in Agriculture House is being led by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien and Minister of State Seán Canney, it is understood – though Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon will be there along with other junior ministers such as Timmy Dooley, Michael Healy Rae and Noel Grealish.

It is understood that no fringe protester groups will be in attendance.

10 Apr 12:25PM

10 Apr 12:29PM

Anthony Kelleher, one of the men leading the protest outside the Whitegate refinery in Cork, has been speaking to our reporter Niall O’Connor in the last few minutes. 

He said the group is “hopeful” that one or two of its members will be present at that meeting with the Taoiseach and other government ministers this afternoon “and we’ll get this resolved… mid-afternoon, at the latest”. 

“We’re here for everybody in the country,” he said.

10 Apr 12:32PM

Courier DPD Ireland has suspended its delivery services across Ireland tomorrow due to the ongoing fuel protests. 

10 Apr 12:35PM

The Taoiseach has also called off a planned trade mission to Canada as a result of the ongoing protests. 

The trade mission had been due to begin on Sunday. Five other government ministers were also set to make the trip, during which a planned meeting between Micheál Martin and Canadian prime minister Mark Carney was due to take place.

You can read more here.

10 Apr 1:16PM
Up to 500 forcourts could be out of fuel by tonight, Fuels for Ireland warns

Fuels for Ireland has issued a statement this afternoon, warning that even if blockades end today, it will take days to restore normal fuel supplies at forecourts.

Fuels for Ireland CEO Kevin McPartlan said that once a “disruption of this scale takes hold, there is no instant reset”.

McPartlan added that if current conditions continue, there could be up to 500 forecourts out of fuel by tonight.

“Even if these protests ended today and everything was fully unblocked, the consequences would not end today,” McPartlan said.

“It would still take the best part of three to five working days before forecourts were operating close to normal again, and in some cases recovery could take longer.

“Stocks have to be rebuilt, deliveries rescheduled and normal distribution patterns restored across the network.”

McPartlan said the supply issue is “no longer confined to one area”.

“The longer this continues, the greater the risk to motorists, businesses and essential services right across the country,” he added.

“Fuels for Ireland wants to make clear this is not an actual shortage of fuel in the Irish market. The immediate problem is a serious supply disruption. Fuel is there, but it is not moving normally through the system because key infrastructure and distribution routes have been blocked.”

“That means we are now close to widespread no-fuel conditions at forecourts, not because the country has run out of fuel, but because the supply chain is being prevented from operating as it should.”

10 Apr 1:18PM

Some images from Cuddihy’s Daybreak in Ovens, Co Cork, which closed for fuel earlier this morning.

IMG_6981 The Journal The Journal

IMG_6978 The Journal The Journal

10 Apr 1:28PM
Taoiseach says "someone else" could buy oil tanker off Galway coast if protests continue

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has warned that Ireland risks losing vital fuel supplies, as a tanker carrying six million litres of oil remains unable to dock off the Galway coast due to ongoing protest blockades.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio’s News at One, Martin said the situation has become “very severe”, particularly at Whitegate and other key ports, amid continued disruption to fuel distribution.

He warned that if the tanker is not able to unload, the shipment could be sold elsewhere.

“Someone else will buy that if we don’t land it,” he said, adding that Ireland is now “on the precipice of turning oil away from the country in the middle of a global oil supply crisis”.

“The refinery will not be able to continue to process product because it doesn’t have adequate storage capacity if product doesn’t come out,” Martin added.

While acknowledging the pressure of rising fuel costs, Martin said the Government has been engaging with industry groups, including haulage and farming representatives, but stressed that the current situation is untenable.

“It is unconscionable, it’s illogical, it’s difficult to comprehend,” he said of the blockades.

10 Apr 1:32PM

10 Apr 1:37PM

Some protesters on O’Connell Street are now making their way to Kildare Street (outside Leinster House) with a mock coffin.

10 Apr 1:39PM

Meanwhile outside Government buildings (which is completely closed off to traffic), several environmental protesters have gathered.

IMG_8111 The Journal The Journal

IMG_8112 The Journal The Journal

10 Apr 1:45PM
Taoiseach: State not 'dictating' who attends meeting today

Micheál Martin said the Government is preparing a new package of fuel support measures as ministers meet with representative organisations this afternoon amid ongoing disruption from fuel protests.

Martin told RTÉ’s News at One that the Government has previously indicated it is “prepared to do more” in response to rising fuel costs, but stressed that any interventions are being kept under “continuous review”.

He also confirmed the State would not “dictate” who attends today’s talks with representative groups, amid questions over whether protest representatives would be involved.

On the ongoing blockades, Martin warned that enforcement may ultimately fall to policing authorities if disruption continues.

“That will fundamentally be a policing issue and a public order issue and very clearly the law will be upheld,” he said.

He added that the Government’s priority is to protect access to essential services, including fuel supplies, hospitals and the ability to travel to work.

“Blockades are not a legitimate form of protest,” Martin said, urging that they “have to end” as they are “injuring people” and “damaging Ireland’s economy and society”.

10 Apr 1:48PM
Timmy Dooley: Fuel cap "unfeasible"

Junior Minister Timmy Dooley is on his way into talks.

He told reporters that a fuel cap would be “unfeasible”.

He added that the Government wants the blockade to end but we can’t “bankrupt the country” to do so.

10 Apr 1:55PM
Protest organisers confirm attendance at State meeting

Protest organiser James Geoghegan has said that three of the four main fuel protest organisers will be in attendance at the meeting taking place between Government ministers and representative bodies shortly.

There had been some confusion over their attendance at the meeting, as Timmy Dooley seemed to dismiss the idea of protest organisers attending the meeting on Prime Time yesterday.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Liveline this afternoon, Geoghegan said the lack of action by Government “proves how weak a leader [Micheál Martin] is”.

Geoghegan also called on Martin to step down as Taoiseach.

“Micheál Martin is actually not in control. The people of Ireland are in control,” Geoghegan said.

“We have every motorway roadblock, every business shut down, and this is going to change Ireland forever, because the people of Ireland are literally sick and tired of being bullied and robbed for years. And it’s it, and that’s the mandate we have.”

10 Apr 1:57PM

The latest from our reporter Niall O’Connor in Whitegate refinery, where a deal has been seemingly struck for emergency services’ fuel to be released.

10 Apr 1:58PM
Protest at Leinster House

10 Apr 2:03PM
Gardaí at Whitegate refinery

10 Apr 2:09PM
'In the eye of the storm': Construction body warns protests putting supply chains under pressure

The Construction Industry Federation (CIF) has called for an immediate end to the fuel blockade, warning that ongoing disruption is putting construction sites and supply chains under serious pressure.

In a statement this afternoon, CIF chief executive Andrew Brownlee said the sector is “in the eye of the storm” due to oil price shocks and continued blockades of fuel infrastructure.

“Construction sites cannot operate without fuel for essential machinery such as diggers and mobile cranes,” he said, warning there is a “real danger that sites will come to a halt” if disruption continues.

He said rising fuel costs are already feeding through into higher prices for materials such as cement, concrete and steel.

“Costs for these materials have risen sharply within weeks,” Brownlee said.

The CIF also warned that deliveries to sites are being affected, with reports of disrupted concrete supply and transport delays.

It is urging Government action including cuts to fuel excise duty, VAT removal on fuel, and a pause on carbon tax increases.

10 Apr 2:26PM
Protest organisers outside Leinster House

Several protest organisers, including John Dallon and Donal Byrne, have not been able to enter Leinster House yet.

The meeting between Government ministers and representative groups is set to begin shortly.

It’s currently unclear if the protest organisers will be allowed in, as lists are currently being checked.

10 Apr 2:32PM
Dublin city protesters

Here’s some pictures of protesters making their way from O’Connell Street to Kildare Street earlier this afternoon.

fuel-protesters-in-dublin-on-the-fourth-day-of-a-national-fuel-protest-against-rising-fuel-prices-fuel-supplies-at-irish-forecourts-are-under-threat-of-running-dry-as-a-days-long-blockade-of-major-s Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

fuel-protesters-on-dawson-street-in-dublin-on-the-fourth-day-of-a-national-fuel-protest-against-rising-fuel-prices-fuel-supplies-at-irish-forecourts-are-under-threat-of-running-dry-as-a-days-long-bl Protesters pictured on Dawson Street this afternoon. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

10 Apr 2:37PM
Protest organisers turned away from talks

In extraordinary scenes, John Dallon and a small group of other protesters have arrived and been turned away from the talks at Leinster House.

They now say the protests will continue.

The Journal / YouTube

10 Apr 2:45PM
Representative groups only?

Timmy Dooley, Minister of State for Agriculture, said dealing with a “representative organisation” was how the Irish and British governments negotiated, and the same strategy should be employed for the fuel protests.

He was speaking on BBC Radio Ulster with Sinn Féin’s Matt Carthy.

“Matt’s around a while and his party know full well how negotiations are done. The Irish government negotiated with the British government around resolving issues in the North of Ireland and it was always important during those discussions that you dealt with a representative organisation,” he said.

“I have no doubt that Matt and members of his party were mindful of the fact that governments didn’t deal with dissident groups that weren’t representative of various groups.”

10 Apr 2:48PM

Our Correspondent Niall O’Connor is still out at Whitegate refinery, where he says there is a bit of a move to get trucks in the gate.

10 Apr 2:54PM
Whitegate refinery blockade continues

Here’s a look at how big the crowds are at Whitegate refinery right now.

In case you were wondering about the weather, there’s currently a rain warning Co Cork.

IMG_7429 The Journal The Journal

IMG_7428 The Journal The Journal

IMG_7431 the Journal the Journal

10 Apr 2:59PM
Road Haulage group hoping for 'sort sort of resolution' from meeting

The Government’s meeting with representative groups continues in Leinster House, despite the exclusion of several fuel protest leaders.

Shortly before the meeting, Irish Road Haulage Association President Ger Hyland told reporters that he hoped the meeting would result in “some sort of a resolution” to the blockades.

10 Apr 3:00PM

Political Correspondent Jane Matthews here.

It’s all quiet on Kildare Street now. The Public Order Unit is gone and the road has reopened.

It’s just a huddle of media left waiting for talks to end.

In the midst of the confusion there outside the Department of Agriculture, it’s worth noting that Fine Gael TD for Galway East Peter Roche was here alongside the protest representatives.

He was busy on the phone while the four reps huddled after being turned away. Seems as though he was acting as an intermediary.

IMG_8134 The Journal The Journal

10 Apr 3:26PM
'Stand with us': WhatsApp groups call for renewed support for protesters

A man involved in one of the main Facebook pages behind the protests has called on people across Ireland to “stand with us”.

In a message shared across several WhatsApp groups after protest organisers were refused access to the government meeting this afternoon, Sonny Boyd, who runs towing company TheTowTruck.ie, said protest representatives had been denied the chance to speak on behalf of those involved.

“This has only strengthened the resolve of everyone involved,” Boyd wrote.

“We will not accept being ignored, and we will not be pushed aside.”

Boyd also urged people to travel to protest locations in their vehicles and “stand united with your county”, adding that “now is the time for the people of Ireland to rise together”.

Boyd spoke to The Journal yesterday, stating that he put his name forward to speak on behalf of one of the protest group’s Facebook pages as he feels that his business “will be gone soon anyway”.

10 Apr 3:29PM
Whitegate stand-off

There seems to be somewhat of a stand-off emerging between gardaí and proteesters at Whitegate.

Our correspondent Niall O’Connor says that gardaí are maintaining a line, while protestors are standing tightly blocking the road at Whitegate.

IMG_7437 Niall O'Connor / The Journal Niall O'Connor / The Journal / The Journal

10 Apr 3:43PM
Protester climbs truck and leads sing-along at Whitegate

IMG_7450 The Journal The Journal

A protester with an Irish tricolour has climbed on top of one of the trucks at Whitegate.

Once atop the truck, he sang the Fields of Athenry, serenaded by fellow protestors.

10 Apr 3:49PM
Can the government cut carbon tax, and what would happen if it did?

One of the central demands of the fuel protests has been the suspension or removal of carbon tax, but can the Government actually do it, and should it?

While ministers could halt upcoming increases, cutting the tax would have implications for fuel prices, climate targets and billions in ringfenced funding.

Valerie Flynn has broken down what farmers and hauliers are calling for, how much carbon tax adds to fuel costs, and what could happen if the tax is changed.

Read the full piece here.

10 Apr 3:55PM
Government withholding new support package until blockades end

Farming and haulage groups have been informed today that a Government support package is ready, but its announcement is being held back until the blockades come to an end.

10 Apr 4:20PM
26 road closures in place across motorways

There are currently 26 road closures in place on motorways across the country as congestion and blockades continue.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has warned of “significant delays” and is advising drivers to use different routes to avoid road closures.

TII has shared the full list of updated road closures here.

10 Apr 4:33PM
Fuel protesters at Galway say there will be no 'step down'

Fuel protesters at Galway Docks are not planning to end protests.

Eoin Delaney, one of several dozen men standing out at the site, said: “There’s no fuel lorries going in or out at all. None has gone in now since Tuesday morning.”

“There’s four lorries still sitting up there in the depot and four lorries came here Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday night, and they were denied access.

“And while we’re after hearing there now, just from Dublin there as well, I don’t think there’s going to be any step down from any protests across the country.”

Asked if he was planning to stay out on protest, he said: “Yes, and that’s what we’re hearing from everyone and from everyone else around the country as well.”

- PA 

10 Apr 4:37PM
Fine Gael TD is not happy with the Government

IMG_8134 Peter Roche [right] pictured with protest representatives. The Journal The Journal

Speaking on RTÉ’s Drivetime programme, Fine Gael TD Peter Roche, who was alongside the four protest representatives as they were refused from Ag House earlier, said he was frustrated with the response he received from Government leaders today as he tried to mediate.

“One of the things that is a great source of frustration for me this evening is that my ability to be able to make contact by phone to anyone at senior level was was was falling on deaf ears, unfortunately,” he said.

He said he was told by a “senior minister” this afternoon that it would be “against the rules and guidelines” of the Department to let the protest representatives into the meeting.

He said there has been some “inflammatory commentary” from politicians in recent days that is not helpful.

He says the protesters are acting out of “total frustration and pressure”.

10 Apr 4:48PM
Medical Council calls for clear access to healthcare services amid ongoing protests

The Medical Council of Ireland has expressed serious concern about the impact that the ongoing fuel price protests are having on patients’ ability to access healthcare services across the country.

The Council said disruption to road networks is affecting patients attending hospital and GP appointments, delaying healthcare staff from reaching those in their care, and hampering the ability of emergency services to respond to life-threatening situations.

“Patient safety depends on timely access to care including for those attending routine appointments and for those in emergency situations alike,” they said.

“We are calling on all those involved to ensure that approaches to hospitals, GP practices, and all healthcare facilities remain clear, and that emergency vehicles are given free passage at all times.”

They said the disruption being caused to public transport routes is of “particular concern” as it is relied on by some of the most vulnerable in society.

The Medical Council urges anyone with a healthcare appointment to allow extra travel time, to check routes in advance, and to contact their hospital or GP practice if they are unable to attend. In a medical emergency, please call 999 or 112 without delay.

10 Apr 4:56PM

asker-20260410-the-diesel-activists-heading-for-oslo-to-demonstrate-against-high-fuel-taxes-photo-terje-pedersen-ntb-this-text-is-auto-translated Norwegian protesters heading for Oslo to demonstrate against high fuel taxes. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Ireland isn’t the only country where fuel protests are taking place.

The Guardian has reported that fuel protestors driving a convoy of trucks attempted to enter Norway’s capital city Oslo today, but only a handful were allowed in.

Norway cut taxes on fuel at the beginning of this month, but hauliers say they need taxes to be further reduced.

10 Apr 5:07PM

A message being shared in Louth is calling on people in the county to join the protest in Dublin’s city centre this evening.

“There will be a large convoy of tractors, trucks and anything else with 4 wheels heading to join the great men and women in Dublin today, we need to stand shoulder to shoulder,” the message says.

10 Apr 5:22PM

GoFundMe has said it is “in contact with the organiser” of a fundraiser linked to the fuel protests, which has now surpassed €105,000 in donations.

In a statement to The Journal, the platform said it is currently vetting the campaign and that it “remain[s] in control of the funds”, meaning organiser Michael McCarthy cannot access or withdraw any money while the review process is ongoing.

The Irish anti-immigrant influencer set up the fundraiser claiming it would “go directly towards sending food and hot drinks to protesters across Dublin, Cork, Galway and beyond”, with money to be spent directly with cafés and bakeries delivering to protest sites.

However, a spokesperson for GoFundMe said it is aware of concerns raised around the campaign, including claims from protest groups that they have not been contacted by McCarthy despite the fundraiser being promoted as support for them.

In a Facebook post this morning, the main protest group, The People of Ireland Against Fuel Prices, said they were still trying to reach him, asking supporters to “tag Michael McCarthy” so contact could be made.

10 Apr 5:35PM

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said the government has made an “absolute shambles of things” and is “escalating this crisis”.

“What on earth are Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael doing locking the protesters out of the talks, talks that are meant to be about addressing the fuel crisis,” she said today in a post on X.

“They need to lift the phone, engage with the protesters and hear what they have to say. The priority has to be ending the protests, getting fuel prices down and doing this as quickly as possible.”

Several protest organisers who believed they would be in attendance at a meeting between government ministers and farming and haulage representative groups today were turned away at the doors, and have since vowed that blockades will continue.

Speaking on RTÉ News this evening, Fianna Fáil TD Niall Collins said: “We’ve been very, very clear all day long and from yesterday that we’re prepared to sit down and have a calm and a rational conversation with the established representative organisations.”

The Minister of State at the Department of Justice called the arrival of a number of people who “weren’t party to the talks this evening” a stunt.

“We’re now working on a package and that package will be implemented once the blockade of our port ends,” he added.

10 Apr 6:01PM

Dublin Bus has said service disruptions are ongoing as road closures remain in place this evening as a result of fuel protests.

“We are experiencing service disruptions across the Dublin Bus network, please allow additional travel time,” they said in a post on X.

Many bus routes have been cancelled or diverted, and some routes have new termini.

Full details of timetable changes can be found here.

10 Apr 6:07PM
Public urged not to stockpile fuel

The National Emergency Coordination Group (NECG) has urged the public not to stockpile fuel, and fire and ambulance services are to be curtailed because of fuel shortages.

The NECG said that fuel supplies for emergency service vehicles are coming under pressure due to the blockades and that contingencies are being put in place to preserve fuel. 

“Fire services will cease non-essential activities (for example, training activities), and responses to non-life threatening call-outs will be restricted in order to preserve fuel,” the group said. 

10 Apr 6:14PM

10 Apr 6:23PM
Asked how talks are progressing, a government source in the room said they were “working through issues” and will meet again tomorrow with the individual sectors, our political correspondent Jane Matthews reports. 
10 Apr 6:34PM
Tánaiste again rules out price caps

Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris has said talks are likely to continue over the weekend, but added that “the blockade has to end”.

Harris ruled out introducing a price cap on fuel, telling RTÉ’s Six One News that they “don’t work”. 

He said a “substantial and significant” package was forthcoming.

“It is aimed to try and keep key sectors of our economy going at a time when there are real challenges,” he added.

10 Apr 6:38PM

Harris said “it is time to go home” while addressing the protesters directly, referring to them as “decent people”. 

He also said he is “extremely concerned” about the impacts on emergency services, calling the situation “dangerous”. 

10 Apr 6:58PM
Meeting ends without agreement

The meeting between government ministers and industry representatives has concluded without an agreement being struck.

In a statement released after the meeting wrapped up in the Department of Agriculture, the government ministers said that “a significant and enhanced support package, in addition to the €250m already allocated, is being finalised in detail to alleviate the burden on impacted sectors”.

The ministers stressed that “constructive engagement with stakeholders will continue over the weekend” with the parties set to meet again tomorrow to finalise the details.

10 Apr 6:59PM

The minister’s statement also said they had “expressed their understanding of the seriousness of the situation and the pressures being experienced by farmers, contractors, and transport operators”.

The statment added that the government was committed “to supporting those affected and acknowledged the need for swift and targeted action”.

10 Apr 7:18PM

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10 Apr 8:06PM

IMG_8167 Damien Sheridan (left) and Mark byrne. The Journal The Journal

Motorcyclists have arrived to join the fuel protest as Dublin’s O’Connell bridge.

Around 100 bikes and riders are now at the protest and they say more are on the way.

10 Apr 8:27PM

Damien Sheridan tells The Journal he put a call out earlier this afternoon for the motorcyclist community to come out and show solidarity with the farmers and hauliers.

10 Apr 8:36PM

Time for some extremely important news: how are these protests impacting pubs?

My colleague Jane Moore has found that so far, alcohol deliveries have not been impacted, but there has been a slight drop in people coming through the doors.

Some publicans in Dublin city centre said they have seen a fall in the number of people coming through their doors in the last few days as a result of the protests.

Ronan Lynch, the owner of The Swan Bar on Aungier Street in Dublin, told The Journal that while people understand why those involved are protesting, he believes the ongoing demonstrations are starting to affect the “vibrancy” of the capital.

“There’s a lot of issues with transport around Dublin, so people can’t get into work. We have deliveries coming tomorrow that should’ve been here today, and staff getting home can be challenging, depending on where they’re living,” he said.

Lynch said his bar was quieter than usual for a Thursday last night, which he put down to the impact on public transport and people avoiding the city centre due to the protests.
“The potential is most pubs are going to be quiet this weekend.”

He said his pub was fine “for another week or so” in terms of supply, and said the protests now need to “come to a head” to prevent “businesses being penalised again in Dublin city”.

Vinny Clarke, the general manager of Devitt’s on Camden Street, also had a quieter Thursday than usual.

“Normally on a Thursday evening, we’d probably get a slight rush of people coming in from offices from 5pm, but there was none of that. Around 10pm, you normally get people who might’ve been out after work or out for a meal, but there was none of that either,” he told The Journal.

“We still have the tourist footfall, but obviously people are avoiding coming into town because they’re concerned about how they get home.”

He said the pub is “lucky” in that their deliveries only have to come over the canal, so there has been no disruption to their supply. Looking ahead to the weekend, Clarke said it’s hard to know what will happen.

“If [the protesters] are going to park up for the weekend, will it put people off coming into town? It possibly will,” he said.

“You can’t really foresee what’s going to happen. Unless they get something resolved in their meeting today, that’s out of our hands. I’d certainly not like to see it starting off again next Monday with more of the same.”

10 Apr 8:46PM

That’s it for our live blog coverage for tonight. Thanks for following along on another eventful day of fuel price protests. 

With talks set to continue over the weekend and the blockades still in place, there will no doubt be plenty more to come tomorrow. 

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