A number of hauliers and truckers protesting over spiralling fuel costs have been fined for obstructing roads in the docklands area of Dublin, while some left the area mid-morning following a vote.
The protest has caused disruption in the east of the city after demonstrators gathered from early Monday morning, however, there was little overall traffic disruption in the capital.
The Garda Press Office said city traffic was “moving” overall with the major disruption confined to the east around the port.
The streets of Dublin were largely deserted on Monday morning as motorists appeared to heed advice to stay away from the city centre, according to a report in The Irish Times, and a rally in O’Connell Street planned for 9am did not take place.
About 25 vehicles were involved in blocking the Tom Clarke Bridge, formerly the East Link bridge, and the roundabout at the Point Village.
Protest organisers People of Ireland Against Fuel Prices had threatened to bring “complete lockdown” to the city.
There were plans for slow-moving convoys of vehicles to travel along a number of motorways into Dublin city centre.
Early on Monday, the protest appeared to centre on the docklands area, with the East Link toll bridge and East Wall Road blocked with trucks and trailers.
The usually busy roundabout outside the 3Arena was also blockaded, causing the closure of North Wall Quay. The entrance to Dublin Port and the Port Tunnel was heavily congested.
Some truck drivers remained in their parked cabs while others stood in groups on the road.
Gardaí at the scene warned the drivers to move their vehicles from the public road or they would be issued fines for obstruction.
Many of them refused and told gardaí they would stay “for the rest of the day”.
All drivers were issued financial penalties for obstructing a public road and others could face penalty points for refusing to comply with a Garda instruction.
They have been warned they could face further penalties if they continue to refuse to move.
Truck drivers protesting over spiralling fuel costs in Dublin are being fined for obstructing roads around the docklands area of the city. Demonstrators have been warned they could be hit with fines every 30 minutes. pic.twitter.com/W89ELV9N0g
— Cate McCurry (@CateMcCurry) April 11, 2022
A number of protesters left the area mid-morning after the group voted on whether to end the protest.
The protesters refused to speak to the media about the demonstration and about their plans to remain at the scene for the rest of the week.
Gardaí attempted to manage traffic and made attempts to get the protesters to move on.
Many of the vehicles carried banners with the slogan #Irishfuelprotest, with others calling for the resignation of Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan.
The group behind the protest held two demonstrations in the capital before Christmas which led to significant traffic problems.
The organisation said it is made up of “truck companies struggling to stay afloat”, but is not affiliated with the official Irish Road Haulage Association.
It had announced plans for a pedestrian protest at the GPO on O’Connell Street at 9am, but it did not materialise.
The group says its protests will continue until its demands are met, and has urged participants to “come prepared for at least one week, maybe even two”.
In a Facebook post, the group said: “Dublin will be in complete lockdown and for as long as it takes until our demands are agreed upon by Government!
“We are a group of truck companies struggling to stay afloat and have come together, along with farmers, bus companies, taxis and the general public to protest as the price of being in business and the cost of living is not affordable.
“We are all in crisis.
“How are people to get to school or work? How are the elderly and disadvantaged supposed to pay for these increases?
“Not just diesel, petrol but electricity and gas. It’s atrocious the situations families are going to find themselves in, choosing between food, heat and transport.
“Our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents did not work hard all their lives and pay tax for us to live in poverty.”
The group said it wanted a peaceful protest and apologised in advance for any inconvenience.
It has called for price caps on petrol, diesel and home-heating fuel and the scrapping of the carbon tax.
