Overview
- Nationwide blockades entered a fourth day Friday, with access still restricted at the Whitegate refinery in Cork and depots in Foynes and Galway that together handle roughly half of Ireland’s fuel.
- An Garda Síochána said Thursday it was moving to an enforcement phase, and the Defence Forces remain on standby with four heavy‑lift recovery trucks to help remove trucks and tractors from critical sites.
- Industry and state officials reported forecourts running dry in the low double digits and warned that panic buying is spreading, threatening fuel for ambulances and fire services and the timely delivery of key medicines.
- Taoiseach Micheál Martin called the Whitegate action “national sabotage,” and ministers said they will meet recognised haulier and farm bodies rather than negotiate directly with blockaders, though some protesters may attend if brought by those groups.
- Protesters, largely organised via social media, demand further cuts or caps on fuel costs after Middle East supply shocks pushed prices higher and eroded recent relief that reduced petrol by about 17c per litre and diesel by about 22c.