Fuel protests: Ministers say they are finalising details of enhanced support package
Ellen O'Donoghue, Michael Bolton and Sarah Slater
- Protests against fuel prices entered their fourth day
- Fuel supplies at forecourts are under threat of running dry as up to 500 forecourts could be without fuel
- Fuel supplies for ambulances are under increasing pressure
- Details of public transport delays and cancellations can be found here
- Checkpoint set up at protest camp outside Oil Refinery in Cork
- The Defence Forces "remain on standby" to assist gardaí in clearing heavy vehicles from blockades
- Meetings between Ministers, protestors, and representatives from affected sectors have concluded for the day. They will reconvene on Saturday
7.00pm
Ministers Martin Heydon, Darragh O’Brien, Seán Canney, Noel Grealish, Timmy Dooley and Michael Healy-Rae, have finished their meetings with national representative bodies from the agricultural contractors, farming, food, transport, and freight sectors.
Ministers said that a significant and enhanced support package, in addition to the €250 million already allocated, is being "finalised in detail to alleviate the burden on impacted sectors".
Ministers said they understood the "seriousness of the situation" and the pressures being experienced by farmers, contractors, and transport operators.
Ministers stressed that constructive engagement with stakeholders will continue over the weekend and will reconvene again on Saturday to finalise the details of the response.
They reaffirmed their intention to bring proposals to a conclusion as quickly as possible.
Earlier, the Tánaiste said the Government is “showing good faith” by signalling further supports for businesses, as he appealed to fuel protesters to “step back from the brink”.
Simon Harris told RTÉ News: “The economic damage that this blockade is doing to the country is real.
“I’m hearing from small businesses across the country running low on supplies.
“I’m hearing from our health services about cancer treatments that can’t go ahead, missed hospital appointments, home healthcare that can’t get out.
“We are at a very dangerous economic moment. We’re showing good faith here, engaging intensively on a significant and substantial package.”
He added: “This country has adequate fuel supplies, but we cannot get those fuel supplies to key parts of our economy and society because of the illegal actions of some – the protest, the blockade, needs to end.”
6.45pm
Protesters blocking access to fuel depots and an oil refinery are causing “significant economic damage to Ireland”, the Tánaiatse has said.
Asked why protest spokesmen were not allowed entry into a Friday meeting between Government and recognised industry bodies, Simon Harris said: “The position of the Government has been crystal clear from day one.
“We engage with the democratically-elected representative bodies, and many of them are in the room today, and also we can’t have a situation where we’re engaging with people who are blockading key parts of our country.
“We’re trying to come up with economic solutions at the same time while blockades are causing significant economic damage to Ireland.”
6.03pm
Eoin Delaney, one of several dozen men standing at the Galway Docks, said their aim is to “get this diesel brought under control, because the way it’s going there now we won’t be able to keep going”.
“There’s no fuel lorries going in or out at all. None has gone in now since Tuesday morning,” he said.
“There’s four lorries still sitting up there in the depot, and four lorries came here Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday night, and they were denied access.
“And while we’re after hearing there now, just from Dublin there now as well. I don’t think there’s going to be any step down from any protests across the country.”
5.43pm
The National Emergency Coordination Group (NECG) met again to assess the current and potential impacts of blockades on the transport network, and the consequent effects on the provision of vital services.
Over 100 fuel stations are currently out of supply, with the number potentially rising to 500 today. The NECG heard that there are approximately 1,500 fuel stations nationwide.
Fuel supplies for emergency response vehicles, including those of the National Ambulance Service and fire services, are under increasing pressure as a result of the blockades.
The NECG heard that from today, fire services across Ireland have had to put in place contingencies to manage the restricted availability of fuel.
Fire services will cease non-essential activities, and responses to non-life-threatening call-outs will be restricted in order to preserve fuel.
The HSE is advising people who missed appointments due to the disruption to contact the relevant service that they had their appointment for, and they will be facilitated with getting another appointment quickly.
5.40pm
Northern Ireland’s political leaders have urged Keir Starmer to act “decisively and without delay” to help people suffering due to rising fuel costs in the region.
First Minister Michelle O’Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly have written to the UK prime minister urging him to bring forward a package of support measures.
They have asked the Government to look at reducing fuel duty, targeted support for hauliers, farmers and small and medium enterprises, and a â comprehensive cost-of-living support package.
In a joint statement, O’Neill and Little-Pengelly said they were “deeply concerned about the escalating pressures facing families, workers and businesses as fuel and energy costs continue to rise”.
5.10pm
The following Dublin Bus services have been cancelled.
142 - 16:35, 16:50, 17:05 and 17:35
P29 - 17:00,17:20 and 17:40
51D - 17:15
69X - 17:45
X1 - 16:50, 17:30, 17:50 and 18:30
X2 - 15:30, 16:15 and 17:10
41X - 17:00, 17:15 and 17:30
X27 - 16:12, 17:11, 17:30, 17:50
33X - 16:15, 16:30, 17:00, 17:30 and 18:00
33D - 17:45
X31 - 16:30, 17:00, 17:30
X25 - 16: 14,16:39, 16:50, 17:07, 17:15 and 17:22
X32 - 16:45, 17:15
X28 - 16:50, 17:30
X30 - 16:50, 17:25
39X - 16:55, 17:25
4.43pm
A Fine Gael TD has said he believed, as a result of conversations he had with “senior people within the government”, that protesters would be facilitated at a meeting with ministers on Friday afternoon.
Speaking on RTÉ's Drivetime, Peter Roche said he travelled to the Department of Agriculture in Dublin, where the meeting is being held, with some of the protest spokespeople.
He said there was a “general consensus that one, if not two, of them would be allowed to attend the meeting” as part of the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) delegation.
However, he said “the names of the people who ultimately were decided upon” were not on the list and “access was prohibited”.
Roche said his attempts to contact senior ministers fell “on deaf ears” in the last half-hour before the meeting.
He said he spoke to a minister who was at the meeting who said it would be against “all the rules and guidelines of the Dail and the department” for the protesters to join the meeting.
He said this was a “great source of disappointment” to him.
4.00pm
Fuel protesters at Galway Docks have said there will be no “step down from any protests”.
Eoin Delaney, one of several dozen men standing out at the site, said: “There’s no fuel lorries going in or out at all. None has gone in now since Tuesday morning.
“There’s four lorries still sitting up there in the depot and four lorries came here Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday night, and they were denied access.
“And while we’re after hearing there now, just from Dublin there as well, I don’t think there’s going to be any step down from any protests across the country.”
Asked if he was planning to stay out on protest, he said: “Yes, and that’s what we’re hearing from everyone and from everyone else around the country as well.”
Asked about the risk of having vehicles damaged if they are forced to be removed, Paul Greaney, a builder from Athenry, said: “That’s the risk, if they want to try and pull us out, they’re going to have a job. It’s not going to happen.”
3.29pm
Protestors at Whitegate in Cork have stopped a fuel tanker from entering the refinery.
Over 100 demonstrators are blocking the street in Whitegate, after two full tankers left the refinery under Garda escort around an hour ago.
Gardaí are stopping the protestors from surrounding the truck.
3.20pm
Access has been restricted to Ireland’s oil refinery in Whitegate, Co Cork, as well as fuel depots in areas such as Galway City and Foynes, Co Limerick.
It has raised concerns over panic buying at forecourts, some of which have run out of fuel, as well as impacts on emergency services and deliveries of key supplies for animal welfare on farms.
Government leaders have condemned the protests as “wrong”, and said the fuel blockades were holding the country to “ransom”.
The Defence Forces remain on standby to help gardai remove blockades at critical infrastructure, which includes fuel depots.
Gardaí have confirmed they are “at the scene of an incident in Whitegate, Co Cork” on Friday morning.
A spokesperson for protesters at Foynes Port said they would allow feed and five loads of fuel to be transported to frontline workers and hospitals, after allowing chemicals needed by Uisce Eireann through their blockade on Thursday.
3:00pm
Protestors have been turned away from a meeting between the Government and agriculture bodies – saying they were told their names would be on the list.
The Government had indicated they would be allowed join talks if they were part of the national groups delegation.
Five people, who have been a part of the protest, attempted to get in the door of the Department but were turned away.
After discussions outside, protestors Donal Byrne and John Dallon said the blockades and slow moving convoys will continue because their voice isn’t being heard at the table.
Protests will continue until demonstrators get a “result”, Dallon said.
2.48pm
The protesters have a “number of mixed messages”, the president of the Irish Road Haulage Association has said.
Heading into a meeting with the Government at the Department of Agriculture on Friday afternoon, Ger Hyland was asked what messages the protesters had requested he deliver.
He said: “There’s a number of mixed messages. They have their asks going into the meeting and it’ll be discussed inside in the meeting. I’m not going to pre-empt anything.”
He added: “I hope by this evening, we might have some sort of a resolution, or an end, or something that maybe can take these people off the streets and the roads.”
He said he felt “apprehensive”, adding there is “a lot riding on this meeting”.
“The stakes are massive for both the country, ourselves, for the people that’s on the protest,” he added.
2.38pm
Gardaí say they have now secured the entrance to the Irvine Oil refinery in Whitegate in Cork.
Oil trucks have been seen entering the facility as torrential rain is falling on over one hundred protestors.
A convoy of at least 22 Garda vehicles from across Cork have arrived to support the operation.
Gardaí have been seen blocking protestors' vehicles with metal fences.
2.25pm
Luas Green Line services are currently not operating between St. Stephen's Green and Dominick. This is due to on going travel restrictions around O'Connell Bridge.
Services are operating between Broombridge and Dominick and between St. Stephen's Green and Brides Glen only.
All Red Line services are operating normally.
There are several routes closed on the M50.
There is a Full Road Closure in place.
Location : M8 J10 - CAHIR (NORTH) - Direction Southbound, Slip N24 to M8.
Expect delays! #TIITraffic@GardaTraffic @LiveDrive pic.twitter.com/IIjnHolLVf
— TII Traffic (@TIITraffic) April 10, 2026
The M8 between J11 and J10 northbound is closed, and Southbound, Slip N24 to M8.
2.20pm
Minister of State Timmy Dooley said it was up to representative groups to decide who attends a meeting with Government ministers on Friday.
He said: “We have made it very clear that the representative groups we have been working with will pick their delegations.
“It is not for us to dictate.
“Representative bodies are bringing, I understand, two representatives, we are not involved in deciding on their behalf.”
The minister also said he “welcomed” co-operation from protesters to garda at the Whitegate refinery in Co Cork.
He added: “We all accept the right in any democracy to peaceful protest.
“There is a big difference between a protest and a blockade.
“It is very clear to me a blockade cannot be tolerated for any length of time.
“We are seeing forecourts without fuel. We are being told ambulances and emergency vehicles will not have access to fuel in a short period of time.”
1.55pm
Retail Excellence Ireland (REI), the largest representative body for the retail industry in Ireland, has today warned that retail trade has fallen by up to 50 per cent in some areas as fuel blockades continue to cause severe disruption across the country.
Footfall in urban centres including Dublin, Cork, Galway, and Limerick has fallen by approximately 50%, with retail trade down between 30 per cent and 50 per cent, the sharpest single-day decline many retailers have experienced. Consumers are limiting journeys to essential trips only, and discretionary in-store spending has, in the words of one member, “fallen off a cliff”.
“We are hearing from members and from their delivery partners that they are now looking at logistical rerouting, prioritising goods deemed essential, and rationing fuel across their fleets. This is where we have arrived, not as a result of fuel price increases, but as a direct result of the disruption being caused to logistics across the country and to fuel supply.”
1.44pm
Ireland is on the “precipice of turning oil away from the country”, Micheál Martin has said.
Speaking on RTÉ radio on Friday afternoon, the Taoiseach said the blockading of ports and a refinery by fuel protesters was “unconscionable”.
He said “somebody else could buy” oil that is on a tanker off the coast of Galway if it can not dock.
Asked if Ireland is at risk of “losing all its oil supply”, Martin replied “correct”.
“It is unconscionable, it’s illogical”, he said
1.17pm
Courier company DPD has suspended deliveries in Ireland on Saturday due to the fuel protests.
In a statement on their website, the firm said: “Due to ongoing fuel protests and the operational challenges they are causing, we have made the difficult decision to temporarily suspend our services in the Republic of Ireland on Saturday, 11th April.
“We sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding during this time.”
1.05pm
Kevin McPartlan, CEO for Fuels for Ireland, has warned it would take up to one week to restore normal fuel supplies at forecourts.
"Even if these protests ended today and everything was fully unblocked, the consequences would not end today. It would still take up to a week before forecourts were operating close to normal again, and in some cases recovery could take longer.
"Once a disruption of this scale takes hold, there is no instant reset. Stocks have to be rebuilt, deliveries rescheduled and normal distribution patterns restored across the network.
"If current conditions continue, there could be up to 500 forecourts out of fuel by tonight.
"This is now a national fuel distribution issue. It is no longer confined to one area. The longer this continues, the greater the risk to motorists, businesses and essential services right across the country.
"Fuels for Ireland wants to make clear this is not an actual shortage of fuel in the Irish market. The immediate problem is a serious supply disruption. Fuel is there, but it is not moving normally through the system because key infrastructure and distribution routes have been blocked.
"That means we are now close to widespread no-fuel conditions at forecourts, not because the country has run out of fuel, but because the supply chain is being prevented from operating as it should."
12.40pm
A Government trade mission to Canada scheduled for next week has been cancelled due to the ongoing fuel protests.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin and four other Cabinet Ministers were due to make the trip to build trading relations in the country.
Given the ongoing uncertainty about the state of protests and fuel supply, the mission has been postponed.
12.35pm
The Coach Tourism and Transport Council of Ireland (CTTC) has confirmed it will attend this afternoon’s meeting at Government Buildings in relation to the concerns around fuel prices.
David Conway, chairman of the organisation, said bus and coach operators are “facing mounting cost pressures, compounded by service disruptions and rising fuel costs”.
“The CTTC reiterates that it is not involved in the fuel protest and hopes to see it concluded swiftly to alleviate these pressures and to keep Ireland moving,” Conway said.
He welcomed the opportunity to engage with Government ministers on Friday and next week.
“During these meetings, the CTTC will bring forward practical solutions to support commercial bus and coach operators during this period of sustained cost pressure,” he said.
12:00pm
The Transport Minister says he isn't going to dictate who can attend a key meeting of stakeholders to discuss the fuel protests.
Darragh O'Brien says a new package of measures to ease the burden on hauliers, farmers and transport operators is being worked on.
Some protesters say they have been invited to that meeting, though that has been denied by the Department of Agriculture, which is hosting the gathering at 2pm.
O'Brien says he isn't going to get into hypotheticals when asked what would happen if protesters turn up anyway.
"I am not going to dictate who is part of each ot those delegations. What I am going to say, for us to move this on and end this situation, the blockade needs to end now.
"What has been said by some of the spokespeople for some of the protesters they said if a discussion were to happen, the blockades would end.
“This is extremely serious. This can stop now, today, and it should, and let us to continue negotiations in good faith.
“We recognise the fact that the impact of the price hikes that we have seen due to a global situation.”
11:55pm
Cancer patients at St Vincent's Hospital in Dublin have experienced extreme delays getting to appointments amid national fuel protests.
Some cancellations have also been reported.
Oncologist John Crown said very sick people are upset, frustrated and confused by the situation.
Dr Crown told Newstalk: "A lot of patients are wondering 'what did I do to deserve this? Why should my treatment be cancelled? Why should I be waiting an extra three hours in an already stressful situation of dealing with cancer?'
"I kind of am a bit sympathetic to that point of view."
11:15pm
Gardaí have set up a checkpoint at the protest camp outside the Irving Oil Refinery in County Cork.
It follows around 40 minutes of discussions between protesters and gardaí earlier this morning.
Several Garda cars and public order unit vans have arrived at the scene in the past twenty minutes.
It appears a large number of gardaí are now on the scene here and have set up a checkpoint.
It’s not yet clear what, if any, action the gardai intend to take.
10.32am
The government is due to announce a package of measures on Friday to reduce inflation, a minister has said.
Enterprise minister Peter Burke was speaking on RTÉ radio's Today With David McCullagh on Friday morning.
He said there would be a “response” from the government to rising prices since the outset of the war in Iran.
Burke said: “Hopefully today we will have news on that.
“I do believe we will have news on that, in terms of an intervention that will reduce inflation, that will try and reduce the price of groceries on the shelves for our consumers, for vulnerable people buying them”.
Burke also said the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris is working with EU colleagues for “flexibility” on excise duty rules.
He said European directives limit how much excise duty can be reduced and Ireland would need permission to go below those thresholds.
He also said there may be “state aid implications” for other measures the government is looking at to help the haulage and agriculture sectors and said the Tánaiste is “working, navigating through those barriers, trying to ensure that we do get a package”.
10.24am
Nursing Homes Ireland has been invited by Minister of State for Older People and Housing Kieran O'Donnell to a meeting to discuss ongoing issues facing nursing home staff caused by fuel shortages reported around the country.
"NHI appreciates the Minister’s invitation and will continue to engage cooperatively with the Government, and all relevant Stakeholders, to ensure there is no disruption to the continuum of care provided to nursing home residents nationwide," a Nursing Homes Ireland statement said.
The organisation called on the government to implement "more immediate measures to support all essential workers' access to fuel, espcially areas of the country where public transport is limited and fuel shortages are most acute.
"As the current energy and fuel crisis continues, it is vital to ensure the inclusion of all nursing homes (public, private, and voluntary) in the development of the emergency plans and additional energy supports currently being developed by Government and the Office of Emergency Planning," it said.
10.11am
Fuels for Ireland chief executive Kevin McPartlan has welcomed findings of a report published by the CCPC on Friday which found no breach of competition or consumer protection law on how fuel prices have been set in Ireland.
The CCPC examined fuel prices in light of "recent geopolitical developments," namely the war in Iran and the wider Middle East.
The report directly addresses concerns around price gouging or anti-competitive behaviour, McPartlan said.
"The report also confirms that the recent increases in fuel prices were driven by significant rises in international wholesale costs, rather than decisions taken by companies operating in Ireland.
"In fact, the report makes clear that prices at Irish forecourts rose by less than the increases observed on global markets," he added.
"Ireland is part of a global fuels market - we are a price taker, not a price setter.
"We recognise the very real pressure this has placed on households and businesses. As acknowledged by the CCPC, there is a level of distress and concern among consumers, and we absolutely recognise that.
"The cause of high prices is global market conditions, which are outside of the control of Irish fuel retailers.”
10.04am
Fuel protesters have added to their demands to lift disruptive demonstrations across the country amid confusion over a crucial government meeting.
A spokesman for the demonstrators said that protests would continue, but they are letting “more fuel” out on Friday, as some forecourts risked running dry after days-long blockades of major supply depots.
The protesters want the Government to commit to further action to combat rising fuel prices triggered by the war in Iran.
Government leaders have condemned the protests as “wrong” and “not in our national interest”, and said the fuel blockades were holding the country to “ransom”.
Government ministers have said they cannot engage with disparate groups carrying out protests, and encouraged them to engage with existing representative groups.
A meeting between several ministers and 10 farming, haulier and business groups is to take place on Friday afternoon.
Although it is understood there are no fuel protesters on the list of attendees, protesters have suggested they were invited to the “breakthrough” meeting.
Fuel protest spokesman James Geoghegan said Fianna Fáil TD for Galway West John Connelly invited them to attend on Friday, and that he, another fuel protester spokesman, John Dallon, and a group of protesters from Galway would attend.
Connelly rang into Newstalk while on a train to say he had not invited him to the meeting, and that he had advised them to talk to the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA), which is among the groups meeting with government on Friday.
Geoghegan said that even if a meeting is held, the protest would continue on Friday despite their pledge to call off demonstrations if the government agreed to meet them.
The protesters had also added to their list of demands: along with the removal of the carbon tax from green diesel and the price of fuel to be capped, they want oil exploration off the west coast of Ireland to begin, and the Dáil to be recalled on Friday.
He said: “We will be looking for the Dáil to be recalled this evening or tonight. It has to be rubber stamped.”
9.40am
A number of new protests are after kicking off on a number of mainline motorways through Co Kildare, according to Sarah Slater.
The M4 new protest has left Kilcock heading for Dublin, approaching Intel Junction.
The M7 new protest has left Junction 9a Millennium Naas heading for Dublin, a queue rapidly building with this one approaching Johnstown Junction 8.
The M9 new protest is at a crawl northbound after Castledermot, approaching Athy Junction, while the N81 is also suffering tailbacks after Blessington heading for Tallaght.
9.22am
Director of Services with Waterford City and County Council for Roads Gabriel Hynes confirmed that the council is already feeling the effects of the fuel crisis, Sarah Slater reports.
He said the local authority currently has between a week and ten days of fuel supply available, with demand at its highest due to peak roadworks season.
“In relation to fuel… we roughly have a week, maybe 10 days supply,” he said. “We’re at the peak of our roadworks programme, so demand at this time of the year is at its peak as well.”
Hynes also revealed that fuel prices have increased by around 30 per cent since January, significantly affecting operational costs.
“We have 250 vehicles approximately operating, so we have a significant fuel demand,” he said.
9am
A spokesperson for protesters at Foynes Port in Co Limerick has said they would open the port today for feed and for five loads of fuel for frontline workers and hospitals.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Neilus O’Connor said protesters had let chemicals needed by Uisce Éireann through their blockade on Thursday.
Asked if the protest would end if they had a meeting with Government, he said: “We will wait until we see the results of that meeting, and then we’ll decide where we go from there.”
8.44am
Representatives of fuel protesters said they will join a meeting of farmers’ groups with government on Friday afternoon.
Despite the protesters saying the demonstrations would be lifted once government met with them, spokesman James Geoghegan said they would continue.
Geoghegan said they want the carbon tax on green diesel to be removed and the price of fuel to be capped.
He said Fianna Fáil TD for Galway West John Connelly invited them to attend Leinster House on Friday, and that he, spokesman John Dallon and a group of protesters from Galway would attend.
Connelly said he had not invited him to the meeting and that he instead had advised them to talk to the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA), which is attending the meeting with government on Friday.
“It’s not over yet for the simple reason we don’t trust the government at this stage,” Geoghegan said.
“We had several meetings yesterday, we had several meetings during the night, we had several meetings this morning – I got, I think, two hours sleep last night – and the word coming back from the ground is after the way Micheál Martin disrespected everyone, he is not to be trusted ever again.
“We have actually reduced the protest, we are allowing out more fuel today, we have lifted some of the blockades off the ports.”
8.22am
Gardaí have said that “critical deliveries” left Rosslare Europort overnight after “positive and constructive engagement with local protestors” during the fuel demonstrations.
An Garda Síochána posted on social media showing a number of trucks and lorries being escorted from the port by a Garda car.
(1/2) An Garda Síochána has and continues to engage extensively with those taking part in fuel protests across the country to facilitate peaceful protest while protecting public safety. pic.twitter.com/Dn32JrJhzz
— An Garda Síochána (@GardaTraffic) April 10, 2026
The force wrote: “An Garda Síochána has and continues to engage extensively with those taking part in fuel protests across the country to facilitate peaceful protest while protecting public safety.”
8.18am
The Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) has offered to act as “an honest broker” between fuel protesters and the Government, its president has said.
Ger Hyland was speaking on RTÉ radio's Morning Ireland on Friday morning as widespread disruption caused by the demonstrations continued into a fourth day.
On Thursday night, a spokesperson for the Dublin city blockade appeared on RTÉ’s Prime Time and claimed protest participants would be attending a meeting with Government on Friday that was originally scheduled for official national representative bodies.
Later a Government spokesman said it had agreed to meet official representatives, adding, “Who these nationally and democratically constituted bodies choose to bring along with them is a matter for them.”
On Friday morning, Hyland said the Government had “extended two places at that table to our association”.
He said he had put forward two people from the IRHA but “it is up to the Government who goes to a Government meeting, I can’t decide who I bring in, who I want”.
Hyland said he had contact with the protesters “through intermediaries” and is available to meet demonstrators before the meeting, and “if the protesters are happy” he would “bring their concerns with us into Government”.
8.11am
Over 100 filling stations have now run out of fuel, and that number could multiply rapidly today if blockades continue.
The head of Fuels for Ireland has said it is a significant number, and it could reach up to 500 if there is no improvement by the end of the day.
It comes as blockades at the country’s main depots and only oil refinery in Co Cork continues on Friday morning.
Fuels for Ireland chief executive Kevin McPartlan told Newstalk that panic buying is making things worse, and is encouraging people to "keep their heads.
"I know that last night we were around about the 100 forecourts figure, which bare in mind that we have 1,600 forecourts in the country, it’s a fairly significant number, and also it’s quite regional, so there are kind of black spots in parts of Munster and in the west, where it’s particularly difficult just because that’s where the fuel depots that have been blockaded are based," McPartlan said.
8.05am
Fuel protests are causing disruption for motorists on a number of national roads on Friday morning.
The M7 remains closed at Portlaoise in both directions, while the M8 northbound from Cashel to Cahir is also blocked by protests.
In Limerick, the M7 is blocked at Annacotty in both directions, and the traffic delays are backing up to the Limerick tunnel, while the M18 in Co Clare is blocked at Dromoland.
Sections of the M9 northbound also remain blocked.
8am
Dublin Airport have issued a passenger advisory for those travelling to and from the airport on Friday due to the protests.
Passengers have been advised to allow extra time for their journeys due to the protests causing traffic disruption on roads approaching the airport, and have been asked to use live traffic apps to identify the quickest and best routes.
ð¢ Passenger Advisory: 8am
Passengers travelling to/from Dublin Airport this morning are advised to allow extra time for their journey due to protest activity causing traffic disruption on some roads approaching the airport, including the M50.
Passengers should use live traffic…
— Dublin Airport (@DublinAirport) April 10, 2026
It comes after people were photographed with luggage walking alongside heavy traffic on the M50 on Thursday as they tried to make it to the airport.
7.53am
There are two full road closures along the M50.
The road is closed northbound at Blanchardstown after Junction 6, as is the Southbound route between Junction 3 at the M1/M50 Interchange and Junction 4 Ballymun.
For more information on road closures, visit here.
7.41am
Dubin Bus has warned on Friday morning that due to the ongoing fuel price protests, it is “experiencing ongoing severe service disruptions and delays” resulting in a number of services being cancelled or diverted.
A full list is available on the Dublin Bus website.
#DBSvcUpdate Road closures remain in place this morning as a result of a protest. We are experiencing service disruptions across the Dublin Bus network, please allow additional travel time. More details here:https://t.co/DjkxMSErwr
— dublinbusnews (@dublinbusnews) April 10, 2026
Meanwhile, Dublin's north and south quays are open for traffic as normal, but O'Connell Street bridge remains closed to traffic.
The Luas Green Line is still not operating between St Stephen's Green and Dominick.
Services are only operating between Broombridge and Dominick, and between St Stephen's Green and Brides Glen, due to the protest.
â ï¸Passengers, please be advised Green Line services are currently not operating between St. Stephen's Green and Dominick. Services are operating between Broombridge and Dominick and between St. Stephen's Green and Brides Glen only. This is due to a protest at O'Connell Bridge. We…
— Luas (@Luas) April 9, 2026
7.35am
Protesters close to Rosslare Europort were served with a Section 8 of the Public Order Act by gardaí on Thursday night.
Gardaí in the village of Kilrane over a loudspeaker issued a warning to protestors that they had to leave the area and failure to do so “in a peaceful and orderly manner” would lead them to “possibly” being arrested and conviction liable to a €1,000 fine or a six-month prison sentence.
The garda added: “I would just urge you all to please peacefully remove yourselves from the area," Sarah Slater reports.
Many of the protesters retorted by saying: “The people of Ireland say no.”
The incident was recorded by scores of those gathered.
Local Aountú councillor Jim Codd said “there were extraordinary scenes” in Rosslare. “The Government has it in their power to stop this now,” Codd said.
Meanwhile, in Co Kilkenny numerous filling stations have reported that they have no fuel left following a surge in motorists panic buying.
Service station locations include Thomastown, Goresbridge, Slieverue and Kilkenny city.
6.50am
Fuel supplies at more forecourts are under threat of running dry as a days-long blockade of major supply depots continues.
They want the Government to commit to further action on fuel costs.
A spokesman for the protesters said some participants may attend a meeting with Government on Friday that was originally scheduled for national representative bodies, with a coalition spokesman saying who the official groups bring is a matter for them.
Their widespread action enters a fourth day on Friday with demonstrators facing a reaction from An Garda Síochána, which said it was entering an “enforcement” phase of its response – accompanied by support from the military.
Social media footage late on Thursday showed gardaí warning protesters they could be arrested if they did not peacefully disperse from an area near Rosslare Europort in Co Wexford.
The Government’s intolerance of the action escalated on Thursday, with Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan and Defence Minister Helen McEntee stating that the Defence Forces “remain on standby” to assist gardaí in clearing heavy vehicles from the blockades.
Protesters have restricted access to a major oil refinery in Whitegate, Co Cork, as well as fuel depots in Galway City and Foynes, Co Limerick.
It has raised concern over panic buying at forecourts, some of which have run out of fuel, as well as impacts on emergency services and deliveries of key supplies for animal welfare on farms.
A leading industry representative warned that the number of forecourts running dry would get “much, much worse” from Thursday evening’s position of affected service stations being in the “low double digits”.
Fuels For Ireland chief executive Kevin McPartlan said “panic buying has absolutely taken hold” and warned that “real significant life-death problems are going to be caused” with fuel supplies to emergency service vehicles under threat.
Ireland’s emergency planning group echoed the comments with “serious concern”, saying there may be an impact on availability for some vital services, supply chains and public transport.
The National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) said Ireland’s overall fuel supplies remain “robust and resilient” but said the obstruction of key routes from ports is threatening the provision of animal feed supplies, fertiliser and other vital materials, resulting in potential animal welfare issues and a threat to livelihoods in the agriculture sector.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) said the disruption is causing people to miss medical appointments and is impacting the provision of home care and critical care, such as dialysis and cancer treatment.
The HSE also warned that the blockades could disrupt the time-sensitive delivery of key medicines and medical devices.
6.35am
Fuel price protesters have secured a meeting with Government Ministers, according to an organiser of the demonstrations, who pledged to continue disruptions for a fourth day on Friday.
One of the organisers, James Geoghegan, claimed negotiators will join a meeting at Government Buildings on Friday afternoon, alongside the Irish Road Haulage Association and the Irish Farmers’ Association.
It comes after forecourts across the country ran low on fuel as protests and blockades continued to cause widespread traffic disruption on Thursday.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Prime Time on Thursday night, Geoghegan described the meeting as a “breakthrough”.
He said the protest had been “pulled in off O’Connell Bridge” and “word had gone down” to release kerosene from fuel depots.
But he said there would continue to be disruption.
“We have a list of demands going into Government tomorrow.”
A Government spokesman said late on Thursday that it had agreed to meet official representative bodies.
However, the spokesman said: “Who these nationally and democratically constituted bodies choose to bring along with them is a matter for them.”
The spokesman said Government had already introduced the “most substantive measures anywhere in the EU” on a per capita basis, but added: “We have been clear that these measures were introduced with flexibility to adapt our response, if required.
“That work remains ongoing and will continue tomorrow as we engage with the national representative organisations.
“Government respects the rights of groups to take part in a peaceful protest but cannot stand by when blockades are (taking) place at our country’s refineries and fuel depots.
“It is not helpful to working people, their families and is harmful to our economy.”
Additional reporting: PA
