Updated at 12.25 pm
Truckers protesting over fuel prices have said they understand frustration with the traffic disruption but insist they need to make their voices heard.
Motorists faced major disruption on Wednesday morning as the Irish Truckers and Haulage Association Against Fuel Prices held a go-slow protest over fuel prices.
Gardaí said there were no longer significant delays on the M1, M7 and M4 motorways. However, there is still heavy traffic on the M50.
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
Advertisement
Although many routes have cleared up, motorists can still expect delays around the capital.
In a post on Facebook, the Irish Truckers and Haulage Association Against Fuel Prices said they are planning a rolling road blockage for 1pm on Wednesday north and south bound on the M50.
Earlier on Wednesday, there were major delays on the M1, M2, M3, M4, M7, and the M11 as protesters made their way to Dublin city centre to gather outside Leinster House.
As road closures are currently in place on Kildare Street, the protest organisers encouraged drivers to park as close to Leinster House as possible and convene on foot outside the Dáil.
Gardaí warned people travelling to Dublin on Wednesday to expect long delays due to the protest.
The organisers have demanded that the Government addresses the nation on the fuel issue. If their demand is not met, they say there will be more protests.
In a Facebook post, the Irish Truckers and Haulage Association Against Fuel Prices said the protest is for lower fuel costs at the pump and at home.
“We want lower costs and lower taxes, rebates are no good. We want the government to address the nation on this cause.
"This is for the people of Ireland, for our future and for our kids."
If there is no change, a lot of small operators will be out of business "sooner than you think", the group warned.
Unaffordable
The Irish Examiner reported that several truckers said their plan was to show the Government that they "cannot compete with the price of diesel".
"We want one of them to come out and talk to us," one protester said.
"We just want to ask them what can you do for us, because it's not getting any cheaper, and it's not getting any cheaper to live outside of Dublin, even the cost of heating our homes now has gone through the roof."
Mark Sheehan, owner of MS Transport, is one of many people calling on the Government to take action. According to Mr Sheehan, his diesel bill has increased by €20,000 per month.
"The problem is, as you know, inflation at the minute, with a driver's wages, diesel and toll bridges," he told Newstalk.
"There's no money in any more, costs have gone through the roof.
"Trying to keep people in jobs, and it just keeps rising and rising and rising, and we get nothing out of it."
