BLOCKADES IN DUBLIN City Centre, on the M50 and on other motorways are continuing today, after yesterday’s talks aimed at defusing protests failed.

As a result of protesters blocking the entrances to fuel depots with tractors and lorries, the National Emergency Coordination Group has estimated that up to 500 of Ireland’s 1,500 filling stations may have run out of petrol and diesel by last night.

Talks between the government and representative groups are to continue today, and ministers have said a “significant and enhanced support package” for the impacted sectors is being finalised.

However, the government has vowed not to provide such a package until the blockades cease.

This morning, parts of the M50 are closed, including between the J5 M50/N2 and J6 M50/N3 Southbound and between J6 M50/N3 and J4 Ballymun Northbound. More updates will be available later in the morning, but road users can follow Transport Infrastructure Ireland’s live map to see real-time congestion.

Dublin Bus says disruption to almost all its services will continue due to road closures around the city. Information on diversions in place for specific routes can be found on the Dublin Bus website.

Bus Éireann’s service to Rosslare Europort is currently suspended until further notice, and will instead begin and end at Wexford train station.

Talks to continue 

The protests, which have seen slow-moving convoys and outright stoppages on major motorways as well as a blockade on Dublin city’s main thoroughfare, began on Tuesday over the cost of fuel.

Participants include professional drivers, farmers and hauliers as well as taxi and bus operators.

Many official representative groups recognised by government have expressed sympathy with the cause but have said they have not been involved in organising the protests.

Government ministers engaged with some of these groups on Friday but a spokesman for the protesters expressed “devastation” that they were excluded from the meeting.

A commitment from the coalition on Friday night to deliver a “substantial” package of measures on fuel costs was not enough to dissuade protesters from continuing blockades.

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Christopher Duffy, a spokesman for the grouping in Dublin city centre, said the protest would continue until there was a “serious reduction in our costs”.

The Defence Forces are “on standby” to help gardaí remove blockades at critical infrastructure. 

An Garda Síochána internally declared an “exceptional event”, allowing it to designate every member available for duty over the weekend.

CEO of the Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association Vincent Jennings told The Journal that shortages of essential goods in stores are “only a matter of time if delivery vans can’t refuel or blockades make journeys unviable to go to outlying stores”.