MOTORISTS IN Dublin and surrounding counties are today facing major disruptions as a result of a protest by lorry and truck drivers against rising fuel prices.
In the early hours of this morning a group naming itself the 'Irish Truckers Haulage Association Against Fuel Prices' descended on the capital calling for "lower fuel costs at the pump and at home" and for the government to "address the nation on this cause."
Streets surrounding Leinster House have been blocked off by Gardaí as protestors had planned to travel towards the Dáil, with a Facebook page for the group listed meeting points on the M1, M2, M3, M4, M7 and M11 motorways before heading towards the capital.
Hauliers protest heading towards Dublin on the M1 at Donabate @rtenews pic.twitter.com/T8W0h0QMFE
— Owen Corcoran (@ocor1) November 24, 2021
Posting on social media, the anonymous organisers of the account have called for protestors to be peaceful and said "if we don't get a change a lot of small operators will be out of business sooner than you think."
They also said "this is for the people of Ireland, we are all suffering, some more than others" and that if they do not get an answer they "will be back in bigger numbers for a week before Christmas."
The organisers said they are owners and operators of both large goods vehicles and heavy god vehicles, and have not disclosed who they are so that the protest cannot be stopped.
It is unclear as of yet when the protest will conclude, but the latest update from Gardaí this morning advised that a slow moving convoy is causing significant disruption travelling northbound on the M50 between Blanchardstown and Ballymun.
Inbound arterial roads have now been cleared and there are no longer significant delays on the M1, M7, M4. There is still heavy traffic on the M50 Southbound from Junction 7 at Palmerstown to Junction 9 at Red Cow. pic.twitter.com/I47uwaK14H
— An Garda Síochána (@GardaTraffic) November 24, 2021
According to the AA, average price for unleaded petrol is now 172.6 cent per litre, while diesel is now 163.3 cent per litre, the highest since the AA started recording filling prices in 1991.
The Irish Road Haulage Association (IHRA) has distanced itself from the group organising the protest, saying in a statement to HGVIrelands.com that they would like to "make it clear that it has no affiliation with this group known as Irish Truckers and Haulage Association Against Fuel Prices."
“This group have copied and pasted to their social media page press statements, sentences of radio interviews from our President and have copied and pasted our logo from one of our member's news articles," the IHRA said.
“They are posting these items to their social media site without knowing the fullness of detail. This is a fringe group and has nothing to do with the Irish Road Haulage Association.”
