No taxation or relief measures to ease the blow of increased fuel prices on farmers, businesses and consumers were announced by Government at a crisis meeting of haulier, farmer and agri contractor associations, the Irish Farmers Journal understands.
The meeting brought together Government ministers, sectoral organisations and Department officials, as nationwide fuel protests and blockades are into their fourth day.
It is understood that while Government indicated that some fuel cost relief measures were at an advanced stage, there is a reluctance to bring them forward while roadways and supply chains remain disrupted by protesters.
An EU-wide response to the energy crisis was also raised as a possibility during this meeting, as was the possibility to receive EU approval for some of the measures under consideration.
A rolling protest convoy in Midleton, Co Cork, this week. \ Donal O'Leary
The Department of Agriculture confirmed that there is around 400,000t of fertiliser still to be imported to meet the farm sector’s expected requirements for the 2026 growing season.
It was stated that there are three ships with fertiliser docked at Foynes that are unable to unload due to the protest disruption.
Tightening molasses supplies were also raised by the Department as an area hitting feed mills, as they are unable to make nuts without molasses binders.
Foynes is the only port through which molasses shipments enter the country.
A follow-up meeting is to be held between Government and representatives of the farming, haulage and contractor sectors on Monday.
Attendees
There had been confusion on Thursday night into Friday morning as to whether representatives of those protesting in Dublin would be allowed to enter the meeting.
Organiser James Geoghegan had stated late Thursday that they believed that they would be invited to participate, but this was rebuked by Government on Friday.
The groups invited were:
Irish Farmers Association (IFA).Macra.Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA).Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA).Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS).Irish Grain Growers Group (IGGG).Association of Farm Contractors of Ireland (FCI).Irish Grain and Feed Association (IGFA).Irish Road Hauliers Association (IRHA).A notable absence from the farm sector associations invited was the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA), whose president Sean McNamara has attended the fuel protests on O’Connell Street.
“While individual members, including officeholders, may choose to participate in protests in a personal capacity, those actions are not undertaken on behalf of [the] ICSA and do not reflect an organisational mandate,” the ICSA said.
Tensions rise
Friday also saw tensions rise at the Whitegate oil refinery in Cork, as protesters lined the streets to block fuel tankers from entering an entrance route into the facility that been secured by gardaí separate to the one blocked by trucks.
A significant number of public order gardaí have been in attendance at the Whitegate refinery since Friday morning.
The impact of curtailed fuel tanker access to depots has hit also the country’s out-of-port dwindling petrol and diesel supplies, particularly in the west and southwest, with the fuel industry stating that 15% of the country’s 1,600 filling stations gone dry by Friday morning.
Read more
Feed mills battle to keep ration supplied as fuel shortages bite
No invite for ICSA to fuel talks with Government
Fuel protesters not invited to meet Government for talks
No taxation or relief measures to ease the blow of increased fuel prices on farmers, businesses and consumers were announced by Government at a crisis meeting of haulier, farmer and agri contractor associations, the Irish Farmers Journal understands.
The meeting brought together Government ministers, sectoral organisations and Department officials, as nationwide fuel protests and blockades are into their fourth day.
It is understood that while Government indicated that some fuel cost relief measures were at an advanced stage, there is a reluctance to bring them forward while roadways and supply chains remain disrupted by protesters.
An EU-wide response to the energy crisis was also raised as a possibility during this meeting, as was the possibility to receive EU approval for some of the measures under consideration.
A rolling protest convoy in Midleton, Co Cork, this week. \ Donal O'Leary
The Department of Agriculture confirmed that there is around 400,000t of fertiliser still to be imported to meet the farm sector’s expected requirements for the 2026 growing season.
It was stated that there are three ships with fertiliser docked at Foynes that are unable to unload due to the protest disruption.
Tightening molasses supplies were also raised by the Department as an area hitting feed mills, as they are unable to make nuts without molasses binders.
Foynes is the only port through which molasses shipments enter the country.
A follow-up meeting is to be held between Government and representatives of the farming, haulage and contractor sectors on Monday.
Attendees
There had been confusion on Thursday night into Friday morning as to whether representatives of those protesting in Dublin would be allowed to enter the meeting.
Organiser James Geoghegan had stated late Thursday that they believed that they would be invited to participate, but this was rebuked by Government on Friday.
The groups invited were:
Irish Farmers Association (IFA).Macra.Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA).Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA).Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS).Irish Grain Growers Group (IGGG).Association of Farm Contractors of Ireland (FCI).Irish Grain and Feed Association (IGFA).Irish Road Hauliers Association (IRHA).A notable absence from the farm sector associations invited was the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA), whose president Sean McNamara has attended the fuel protests on O’Connell Street.
“While individual members, including officeholders, may choose to participate in protests in a personal capacity, those actions are not undertaken on behalf of [the] ICSA and do not reflect an organisational mandate,” the ICSA said.
Tensions rise
Friday also saw tensions rise at the Whitegate oil refinery in Cork, as protesters lined the streets to block fuel tankers from entering an entrance route into the facility that been secured by gardaí separate to the one blocked by trucks.
A significant number of public order gardaí have been in attendance at the Whitegate refinery since Friday morning.
The impact of curtailed fuel tanker access to depots has hit also the country’s out-of-port dwindling petrol and diesel supplies, particularly in the west and southwest, with the fuel industry stating that 15% of the country’s 1,600 filling stations gone dry by Friday morning.
Read more
Feed mills battle to keep ration supplied as fuel shortages bite
No invite for ICSA to fuel talks with Government
Fuel protesters not invited to meet Government for talks
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