Truckers, hauliers holding Dublin protest over fuel costs
A group of truckers and hauliers are leading convoys from the main motorways around Dublin into the city centre today, protesting for “lower fuel costs at the pump and at home”.
The group, describing itself as Irish Truckers Haulage Association Against Fuel Prices, said it is protesting for “lower fuel costs at the pump and at home”.
“We want lower costs and lower taxes, rebates are no good,” it added.
The group called for a “peaceful protest” and advised those taking part to keep hard shoulders and bus lanes free.
The group listed meeting points on the M1, M2, M3, M4, M7, and M11 motorways.
The HGV and LGV owner operators intend to travel towards the Dáil.
“All roads lead to Kildare Street or as far as we can get. When we stop don’t move,” a Facebook post with 2,400 likes said.
It asked participants to “have some consideration” for emergency vehicles.
“We don’t want any trouble or vigilante groups to act up. Stay at home if that’s your plans please,” it said.
It said in a post it would have no spokespeople available to the press.
It also raised the possibility of an additional protest in the week before Christmas.
The Irish Road Haulage Association has distanced itself from the group and the protest.
IRHA President Eugene Drennan said it was difficult to engage with the group as it is “faceless”.
He said the group had taken IRHA statements “out of context”.
“It is very hard to know who or what they are. While their goals might be similar to what we are negotiating towards, we don’t know exactly what they want,” he said.
Mr Drennan said the IRHA had “big grievances” with the Government and Minister for Environment Eamon Ryan, but members decided they “did not want to cause any grief to the public before Christmas”.
He said members reserved their right to protest in the New Year.
Independent TD Richard O’Donoghue, who drove the cab of an articulated truck to the Dáil yesterday, said the plan was for a peaceful protest that would be “respectful of people and emergency vehicles”.
Mr O’Donoghue said he drove the vehicle to the Dáil as part of his own “silent protest” to highlight the issue of a disparity of services and infrastructure outside cities.
He called for a “level-playing field for everyone”.
The TD for Limerick county called for increased investment in rural areas.
“It is about incentivising people, not crippling the country by taxing them. They are driving prices up and there’s no alternatives,” he said.
An Garda Síochána said it was aware of the potential protest.
It said commuters intending to access or travel through the Dublin region “should plan accordingly”.
Gardaí have said they will have “an appropriate and proportionate plan” in place to monitor the protest.
Article Source – Truckers, hauliers holding Dublin protest over fuel costs – RTE – Cillian Sherlock
