Tullamore by-pass blocked as fuel protest protest escalates on third day

For a third day the N52 by-pass around Tullamore is blocked as the ongoing fuel crisis escalates.

Convoys set out for Tullamore from various areas in the county and the wider Midlands early on Thursday morning including Cloghan where farmers, contractors and hauliers gathered from 7am onwards.

At the Cappincur roundabout on the by-pass protestors are allowing emergency vehicles through and anyone with a genuine reason to get to a destination without delay, such as a medical appointment.

Protests also took place on the Roscrea road in Birr on Wednesday and in other locations across the Midlands including Athlone, Portlaoise and Portumna.

The 'People of Ireland Against Fuel Prices Protest' group said the protest action will continue until the Government "listen to the people of Ireland."

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Midlands-North-West MEP Ciaran Mullooly called on the Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris to immediately invite representatives of protesting farmers, contractors and hauliers into Government Buildings to address their concerns. Mullooly said the failure to engage has fuelled anger on the ground, with tractors once again taking to the roads across Ireland as businesses struggle to survive rising fuel costs.

Mullooly warned that despite recent easing in global tensions, energy disruption is set to continue in the short and medium term. “This crisis is far from over. Prices will remain volatile and unpredictable, and the pressure on farmers, contractors and families will continue,” he said. “That is why action must be taken now - both in Dublin and in Brussels - before the situation worsens further.”

A call on the Government to immediately suspend the ban on the commercial sale of turf and allow retail and advertised sales to resume, at least for the duration of the ongoing energy crisis., by Independent TD for Offaly, Carol Nolan.

“I am calling on the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Darragh O’Brien, to lift the ban on turf sales. We are importing hundreds of tonnes of peat and briquettes into this country while banning the sale of our own natural resource. It was also a plainly idiotic thing to do, and it must be reversed,” said Deputy Nolan.

“I warned in 2022 that these rules would cause real hardship and anger in rural communities. At the time I described the proposed ban on the commercial sale of turf as a complete cave-in by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to a bizarre Green Party nanny-state agenda that was determined to infantilise rural Ireland.”

“Rural communities in Offaly and across the Midlands have relied on turf for generations. Indeed, it is not just fuel, it is part of our culture, our heritage and, for many households, the only affordable way to stay warm.”

READ NEXT: Fuel protesters block Birr Road all day Wednesday

Meanwhile, on Wednesday afternoon the Garda Press Office released a statement on the ongoing fuel protests.

It read as follows: "Since yesterday, An Garda Síochána has been engaging with, and continues to engage with, those involved in the fuel protests around the country, seeking to work with them to mitigate the negative impact these protests are having on the lives of their communities.

While these protests have been peaceful, they are causing significant disruption for people in some parts of the country.

We in An Garda Síochána have received reports of emergency workers being delayed or not being able to travel to their work, of people not being able to attend hospital appointments or visit loved ones who are ill. Key public transports routes are also delayed or not operating, which means that employees and businesses are heavily impacted. A small number of fuel depots are also being blocked.

While An Garda Síochána respects and facilitates the right to peaceful protest, An Garda Síochána must also balance and protect the rights of individuals to travel freely and commercial organisations to conduct business.

An Garda Síochána has asked and asks again for protestors to engage with Gardaí locally to facilitate public transport and other traffic.

An Garda Síochána has also received reports of the blocking of diversion routes put in place to facilitate travel around protests.

Again, An Garda Síochána is requesting that protestors engage with Gardaí locally to facilitate important diversion and emergency routes.

An Garda Síochána has no role in permitting or authorising public gatherings or protests.

There is no permit required in order to organise any protest.

Any Garda activity in relation to evolving events involves a graduated policing response taking into account relevant legislation and public safety.

An Garda Síochána will continue to provide updates, where possible, to the public, through our social media channels."