Irish Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan has claimed that fuel protesters in Ireland are being 'manipulated' by outside actors, including British right-wing activist Tommy Robinson. Speaking on Thursday, O'Callaghan said online observations revealed that many outside actors were seeking to exploit the protests for their own purposes.
The protests, which began on Tuesday morning, have seen roads and fuel depots across Ireland blockaded in response to rising fuel costs. The government confirmed earlier on Thursday that the army would be called in to remove heavy vehicles obstructing critical infrastructure.
O'Callaghan told reporters that the protests had gone on too long and that the government had heard the protesters' point. He warned that they were now being manipulated by outside actors who wanted to damage Ireland as a country. He specifically cited Tommy Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, as referring to and relying upon the protests to advance his own political measures.
The minister said that the overwhelming majority of protesters did not want to be manipulated by people like Robinson. He added that people on the protest lines had 'lost control' and needed to recognise the damage they were inflicting on the country. He welcomed that protesters at the fuel terminal in Foynes, Limerick, had recognised the importance of allowing chemicals out for clean water.
O'Callaghan stated that there would be legal consequences for those involved, though they might not arise immediately. He warned that driving licences could be affected and that insurance coverage would likely be void for those voluntarily engaging in illegal activity. Responding to criticism about bringing in the Defence Forces, he said it was a careful matter considered across government.
The minister emphasised that the government is considering its response to rising fuel prices on an ongoing basis, but the country cannot be held to ransom by a group of unelected people. He stated that in a democracy, the government cannot immediately give in to unlawful blockades of critical infrastructure.
