Fuel shortages in Tipperary as protests disrupt deliveries and cause long queues at petrol stations
Petrol stations in Tipperary are reporting delays in getting fuel delivered, while long queues have been reported at filling stations across the county as people fill their cars with petrol and diesel as the third day of the nationwide fuel protests continues.
Roads across the county have been closed by gardaí as protesters in trucks, buses and tractors block major arteries including the M8 motorway in Cashel, and the N24 outside Cahir.
The Inver filling station on the Limerick Road in Tipperary town has said they are experiencing delays in getting fuel delivered, but that they are doing everything possible to continue serving their customers.
"Due to ongoing disruption affecting access to the Foynes fuel terminal, we are currently experiencing delays in fuel deliveries,” they said on social media.
"We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and want to assure you that we are doing everything possible to continue serving our customers,” they added.
Videos circulating on social media show queues outside filling stations, including at Quirke’s in Dundrum, outside Tipperary town.
Protesters are calling on the Government to eliminate carbon tax on all fuels, and cap diesel and petrol prices at €1.74 per litre, and €1.02 on green or agricultural diesel.
Many Tipperary councillors have shown their support for the protesters, with Labour Party councillor Michael ‘Chicken’ Brennan speaking to the Irish Independent from the protest in Cahir.
"I’m still in support of it. I got involved in this last weekend when a number of my friends and other people in the locality contacted me that are builders or have plant machinery businesses, or agricultural contractors, farmers and hauliers, and all young families around are feeling the pressure of the increase of costs,” he said.
“The biggest fear for them is that in one to three months, some of them could be out of business, but definitely within the three to six month period there could be a lot of them out of business if this continues,” he said.
“They have mortgages, some of them have bought new machinery in the last couple of years, and they’re trying to price jobs without having to add the cost onto the consumer, but it’s impossible for them to do that,” Cllr Brennan said.
Cllr Brennan said from speaking to the protesters across Tipperary, they don’t want to be on the roads protesting, and that they would much rather be out working and earning money.
“They want to have their stuff out working, they want to be making money because the bills are still coming in even though they’re here,” he said.
Yesterday’s response from Taoiseach Micheál Martin was “disappointing” to the protesters, Cllr Brennan said, adding that the blockades would continue until they were listened to.
Micheál Martin said that the protests are “wrong” and that there “should be penalties and there will be penalties” for anyone who breaks the law.
He also ruled out sitting down with the fuel protesters, saying that there are “many, many different groups and many different voices” involved and “the only feasible way to engage is with the national representative bodies of the different sectors, and that’s what we’re going to do.”
Cllr Brennan said that these comments “deflated” spirits, but that the group is resilient.
"Everyone felt a bit deflated, they were disappointed that they weren’t going to be recognised and they weren’t going to be spoken to and there would be no open dialogue to see if they could come to some sort of arrangement.
"But as the day went on they rallied up and said ‘we’re going to go together, we’re going to go another day if we have to’, and this could go into the weekend, they’re showing resilience here to stay at it,” the Carrick-on-Suir district councillor said.
While support for the protesters on the road has been evident, a few people passing the protests on the roads have shouted obscenities and given the two fingers to protesters. However, many people have stopped to offer food or bottles of water to those out on the blockades.
Having travelled to protests in Cashel, Cahir and Urlingford, Cllr Brennan said that the Tipperary protests are well organised, and lanes are being kept clear for people who have medical appointments or emergency vehicles trying to get through.
"Anything that’s a high load or a wide load is being let through the blockage, as is emergency vehicles or anybody that has a medical appointment, that’s all being let through,” he said.
"I think the Tipperary protests have been very well organised in that respect,” he said.
While filling up his own car with diesel this morning, Cllr Brennan said that he spoke to a woman who is a carer and is being forced to decide whether to fill her car up or try and cut costs on her food shopping because of the cost of living crisis.
"She has to decide if she fills the tank or does she half fill the tank and restrict her shopping as well, because she has to keep her family home going as well,” he said.
"Everybody across the board is feeling the pinch on this, and there was a man who pulled up a while ago who can’t afford to get home heating oil, he lost his fuel allowance and he’s on a waiting list for an operation, so he’ll need it now more than ever,” the Labour Party councillor added.
Also showing support for the blockades was independent councillor Liam Browne, who said that people are “fighting for their livelihoods”.
"Calling out the army to drag protesters off the roads, when a simple phone call to ask them to sit down and talk, is disgraceful,” he said.
"This could end in five minutes, but will now leave years of bitterness. These people are fighting for their jobs and livelihoods. Time for talk from the Government,” he added.
“Fair play to them for standing their ground. If anything, they've become even more determined,” the Cashel-based councillor said.
Fine Gael councillor for Ballina Phyll Bugler has said she is also standing with the protest, calling on the Government to meet with representatives of the protesters and hammer out a deal.
"Householders, contractors, hauliers, farmers, business owners and everyone in Ireland cannot pay for home heating oil, electricity, diesel, petrol and food at this point in time,” she said.
"I am calling on the Government to meet the nominated four people and negotiate a deal. We are all the hard working people of Ireland and we have been pushed to limit – we cannot pay the current fuel costs which also affects our food costs,” she added.
Independent councillor Máirín McGrath said that the protesters are the people who keep the country moving.
"These are the people who keep our country moving every day. They are not serial protestors. They would much rather be working, but right now their message is clear - they cannot afford to move,” she said.
“The Government response was disappointing. It failed to acknowledge the genuine pressures these individuals, companies and self employed businesses are facing as a result of the rising fuel costs. It is vital that they engage with and introduce further measures to support these industries.
"I appreciate these protests cause inconvenience, that’s what protests usually do but this action is being taken in everyone’s interest. Credit to those involved in the Cashel blockade. It was well organised and responsibly managed,” she added.
Cllr Brennan said that the protests could last into the weekend, though he expected that the blockades of oil refineries would come to an end with additional enforcement from gardaí and the army.
Off the back of the protests, Mary Immaculate College have voted to postpone a planned student experience day at their Thurles campus.
The student experience day was scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 11, but has now been rescheduled to take place on Saturday, April 25 from 9.30am to 2pm.
"This decision has been regretfully taken in response to the ongoing fuel protests and the uncertainty they present in relation to travel and fuel availability.
"Our priority is to ensure that all prospective students, families and staff can travel to and from the campus without unnecessary disruption,” a statment from the college said.