The Irish government has announced a €505 million (£440m) package of fuel-cost measures following an emergency Cabinet meeting on Sunday. The package includes further reductions in excise duty on petrol, diesel and green diesel, and a postponement of the planned carbon tax increase until October. This comes on top of €250 million in measures announced three weeks ago.
The protests, led by hauliers and farmers, involved blockades of Ireland’s only oil refinery and other key depots, causing widespread fuel distribution disruption. More than a third of filling stations ran dry, raising concerns for emergency services and farm supplies. Police cleared blockades in Cork, Dublin and Galway, using pepper spray in clashes that led to several arrests. Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly vowed to step up enforcement against those 'endangering the state' by blocking critical infrastructure.
The new measures include a €100 million fuel subsidy support scheme for farmers, agricultural contractors and fishers, and a transport support scheme for haulage operators and school transport providers. The excise duty reductions will take effect from midnight on Wednesday, subject to Dáil approval. Opposition parties have criticised the government's response, with Sinn Féin set to table a motion of no confidence when parliament resumes on Tuesday.
