Fuel protests ‘the straw that broke the camel’s back’ says Louth councillor
Fuel protests that brought parts of the M1 in County Louth to a standstill over the past week were described as “the straw that broke the camel’s back” as councillors vented widespread frustration with government at a meeting of Drogheda Borough District.
Mayor of Drogheda, Cllr Michelle Hall, led criticism of what she described as a failure by successive governments to plan for major incidents, following demonstrations that caused significant tailbacks on the motorway network locally and nationally.
Cllr Hall told the meeting that governments had long been aware of the pressures Ireland would face from climate breakdown, including fuel shortages, civil unrest and increased migration, but had failed to adequately prepare.
“They knew all these things were coming and yet they failed to plan,” she said.
She also criticised the government’s response to the fuel protests, claiming public concerns were being ignored. “People are not being listened to, elected representatives are not being listened to. The government needs to step up, or step down,” she said.
Cllr Paddy McQuillan said the protests reflected growing anger among the public over the cost-of-living crisis. He described the demonstrations as “the straw that broke the camel’s back”.
“We have soaring energy costs and food prices, health insurance and car insurance,” he said. “Everybody is sick to their teeth of this government.”
Cllr Pio Smith echoed those sentiments, saying successive governments were reacting to protests rather than engaging meaningfully with people’s concerns.
“They are not listening to the voice of the people,” he said, adding: “You cannot tax people anymore than they already are.”
Cllr Declan Power said the protests had arisen from real and pressing challenges facing households, particularly rising fuel and energy costs.
He noted that the government takes in “well over a billion euro a year” through carbon tax, and argued that the revenue should be reinvested in sustainable infrastructure, including active travel measures.
Cllr James Byrne added: “Everybody and anybody is entitled to peaceful protest in this country,” he told the meeting. “I have done it myself and I would do it again.”
Cllr Byrne said recent reductions in excise duty on fuel had not gone far enough in his view, but acknowledged the government faced difficult decisions.
“They had to weigh this up in terms of cost,” he said.
The debate followed an emergency motion proposed by Mayor Hall, calling on councillors to declare “no confidence” in the government over a range of measures impacting Drogheda.
However, the motion failed to reach the floor. Two counter-motions were subsequently proposed by Cllr James Byrne and Cllr Ejiro O’Hare Stratton, neither of which were passed.