The Clare-based Deputy Vice President of the Irish Road Haulage Association claims rolling fuel protests have been ‘hijacked’ as multiple blockages have been reported on the county’s roads network.
It comes the Government met with the IHRA yesterday amid the ongoing protests.
So far, the M18/N18 southbound is closed between Junction 11 Dromoland and Junction 10 Newmarket-On-Fergus, while the northbound is closed between J13 Tulla and J14 Barefield with demonstrators using vehicles to block motorway access.
Additionally rolling blockades have been set up on the Old Limerick road in both directions, which are the only available diversions for traffic blocked from accessing the M18 at Dromoland.
Service stations across the county are coming under increasing pressure with petrol and diesel running out at a number of locations.
Deputy Vice President of the Irish Road Haulage Association, Eugene Drennan, says the vast majority of the protest group haven’t lent their support to previous campaigns aimed at reducing the cost of fuel.
He told Clare FM’s Morning Focus that while he sympathises with the rationale behind a rolling protest, fully blocking roads is unnaceptable.
Last night, Taoiseach Micheál Martin labelled the protests ‘beyond the pale’ stating Government will not deviate from discussions with national representative organisations.
The chair of the Clare branch of the Irish Farmers Association claims the frustration from those in the agricultural sector stems from years of not being listened to.
The price of agri-diesel has increased by over 60c per litre since the beginning of the conflict in the Middle East in February, with Government set to reassess the situation at the end of next month.
The IFA are calling for a suspension on Carbon Tax and the implementation of a temporary fuel support service to combat the increase in prices.
Feakle-based Clare IFA Chair Stephen Walsh says when combined with dicussions around the Mercosur trade agreement, farmers feel consistently ignored.
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