Fuel prices reaching level of 'national emergency'

The Minister for Transport has met the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) to discuss the ongoing impact of the Iran crisis on fuel costs in Ireland.

Hauliers are seeking extra supports due to the situation.

The IRHA said the fuel price crisis is approaching the level of "a national emergency" and has called on the Government to "react swiftly" and agree another package of measures with hauliers.

Less than two weeks ago, the Government announced a series of measures to help address surging fuel costs in Ireland due to the crisis in Iran.

However, groups have already warned that those supports no longer meet demands.

In an online meeting, the IRHA told Minister Darragh O'Brien that fuel prices have risen more than 35% since the Government supports were announced.

Highlighting the impact on their sector, the group said that hauliers must be prioritised if fuel rationing is introduced.

The minister is understood to have told hauliers that the situation will be discussed by EU transport ministers next week.

He also agreed to meet with the group again in the coming weeks amid ongoing pressure on Government due to the crisis.

Earlier, the Deputy Vice President of the IHRA said that the price of fuel "has now gone way past" what it was when the first package of supports was announced.

"There are various things they can do and irrespective of the cost to the Exchequer, we are led to believe that we have funds that we put away for the rainy day," Eugene Drennan said on RTÉ's Morning Ireland programme.

"We're very close to a national emergency here.

They must react and they must react swiftly and quickly," Mr Drennan said.

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Yesterday, the Taoiseach said that the Government is not looking at fuel rationing "at this stage" and has been informed that there are supplies available "until the end of April".

Micheál Martin said that if the conflict in the Middle East "continues at length", it will have "very significant impacts" on the world economy.

"But we hope this comes to an end soon," he said on Newstalk radio.

Mr Martin said that no government can compensate every person and sector during the energy crisis caused by the war in Iran.