Ireland’s Fuel Crisis Escalates as Protesters Demanding End to Carbon Tax Block Access to Major Oil Refinery and Government Calls in Military
Ireland’s fuel crisis has escalated as protesters demanding suspension of the carbon tax have blocked access to a major oil refinery and fuel depots and the Government has called in the military. Sky News has more.
Passengers travelling to or from Dublin Airport are being advised to allow extra time for their journeys as protests over high fuel prices in Ireland continue into a fourth day.
Farmers, lorry drivers and agricultural contractors began a series of demonstrations on Tuesday. They have evolved from slow-moving motorway convoys that restricted access to some of Dublin’s busiest streets to blockades of fuel depots.
The Irish Government will meet protesters on Friday to discuss the crisis, which was triggered by the rising cost of gas and diesel amid the knock-on effects of the Iran war.
Protesters have blocked access to a major oil refinery in Whitegate, Co Cork, as well as fuel depots in Galway City and Foynes, Co Limerick, raising concerns over panic buying at petrol stations.
More than 100 petrol stations have now run out of fuel. The figure could rise to five times as many by Friday evening if fuel supplies remain disrupted, national broadcaster RTE reported, citing the industry organisation Fuels for Ireland.
The Irish Government asked the army on Thursday to remove vehicles from blocked roads amid concerns they could impede police, firefighters and ambulances responding to emergencies.
Ireland’s Health Service Executive (HSE) said the disruption was causing people to miss medical appointments and hitting the provision of home care and critical care, such as dialysis and cancer treatment.
Worth reading in full.
According to Liz Walsh in the Spectator, the protesters’ demands are to cap fuel at €1.75 a litre and suspend the carbon tax (something Sky oddly fails to mention). Permanently suspend, perhaps.
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“…………. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning”.
Ah well, I guess Sky just forgot to mention the “carbon tax”… 😏
And all power to the protestors, obviously 👍
Reducing the carbon tax which by reducing the retail price of fuel, just means people will buy more and stocks will be depleted quicker.
Too bad economics isn’t taught in schools.
Low prices are of no use if there’s nothing ro buy. Like in the UK, “free” healthcare is of no use if you can’t get it.
The threat to use the army just brought out even more people to protest.
Well, that’s a new one – blocking a refinery to end carbon tax. Given the eco loons blocked ours to demand an end to oil and the police did nothing I would expect the same if our farmer’s and haulier’s did likewise. But then again Two Tier Keir is here.
The protesters were attacked by the Garda with pepper spray and physical violence yesterday and the entrance to the whitegates refinery was opened.
Just another case of the government mob against its own people
I wonder, if this would have happened if they had been of a different demographic to white irish?
By yesterday afternoon 600 out of the total 1500 of Irelands forecourts were dry but this isn’t over yet,its not so easy to clear the entrances to 1500 petrol stations!
Btw they are not blocking the hardshoulders or emergency access to any emergency vehicles, dont take too much notice of the government backed mouthpiece RTE !
The Garda have been diverting ambulances around the protests not the farmers, they leave full access for any emergencies and have even encouraged them to use quicker routes pass their lines but the Garda have not allowed it!
And the “army” for what it is (6000 max) has not been sent in, its on standby, up to 50% of them secretly interviewed refuse to take action against their own people!
Good luck to the Irish protesters. It’s about time that their Government (and ours) felt some heat.
Pricing = rationing by the free market mechanism to dampen demand when supply is constrained, stops panic buying so everybody gets something, and we don’t run out.
Price capping = over-buying, supplies soon exhausted.
Retailers need capital to restock. If next delivery will cost more, by increasing current prices the retailer will get the capital to pay the increased cost of fresh supply, if not they can’t buy – “Sorry. No fuel.”
Simple economics.
But.
Properly governed Countries – and that evidently excludes Ireland and the UK – ensure they have substantial reserve stocks of essential resources. Some Countries hold 12 months to 24 months reserves of oil, motor fuels. The UK, I think has only 2 months.
That Ireland has run out so quickly suggests they have no, or very small, reserves.
The Irish people beginning to realise their government is not working for them.
I wonder how the Irish Police and military sleep at night?