Fuel protesters are being "manipulated" by "outside actors", the Minister for Justice

Jim O'Callaghan said "when you look online at present, you can see that many outside actors are seeking to manipulate these people for their own purposes".

Speaking to the media, he added that British right-wing activist Tommy Robinson was "referring to and relying upon these protests to advance his own political measures".

"So I think we need to recognise that people are being manipulated here, and we need to bring an end to these protests," he said.

There is further disruption on Ireland's road networks for a third day and gardaí have requested the assistance of the Defence Forces to remove vehicles blocking critical infrastructure.

The move was confirmed earlier in a statement from Mr O'Callaghan, who said the blocking of such infrastructure will not be permitted to continue.

Under law, gardaí can request the assistance of the Defence Forces as an aid to the civil power, and that C70 request was issued overnight.

Mr O'Callaghan said large vehicles blocking infrastructure, such as the Whitegate refinery in Co Cork, will be removed.

Owners of the vehicles are being requested to move them immediately, as they are denying people access to fuel, which was described in the statement as an "unacceptable interference".

The statement adds that owners "should not complain" about any damage caused to vehicles during removal by gardaí and the Defence Forces.

Follow live updates here What is a C70 request and how often are they issued?

Taoiseach calls for blockades to be stood down
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the Government will continue to protect people's rights and keep the economy going.

Mr Martin was responding to questions at the opening of the redeveloped Campas Íosagáin in Baile Bhuirne, Co Cork.

When asked what his main message was in the wake of continuing protests and growing queues at forecourts across the country, the Taoiseach again called for those behind the "blockades" to stand down.

He said: "My fundamental message is to those who are preventing people from accessing work or getting about the place is to stop the blockades of ports and of roads.

"We have no issue with protest.

People are entitled to protest, but this has gone beyond legitimate protest, when you start blocking access to ports and oil refineries."
Mr Martin said: "The people are saying to us who are not protesting, they want this resolved.

They want the protests to stop, and the government is going to do everything we can to protect people and to protect their rights.

"That's my message to people.

We're going to do everything we can to keep the economy going, which has been our main mission during this crisis, and to protect them and to protect their rights," the Taoiseach added.

The Taoiseach was also asked what the Defence Forces can do on a practical level to try and bring the protests to an end, and who will make that call.

Mr Martin responded: "That's an operational matter between An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces.

"And I'm not going to comment on any specifics relating to that.

"I have asked the protesters to pull back.

And as they did in Foynes, in terms of some gesture, in terms of allowing material pertaining to water through, they should pull back.

"And there are mechanisms, as I said earlier, to argue their case.

But at the moment, we don't know, literally, who's who.

"This morning, I heard one spokesperson on O'Connell Street, I think he was on RTÉ, saying he was not responsible for those in Whitegate.

"There's no capacity to engage with 20 different groupings of different individuals, and in the absence of any coherent sort of grouping or organisation in terms of dialogue and so forth.

So that is, that's an obvious issue that has arisen."
Earlier, he said the protests at Foynes in Co Limerick mean that essential supplies for Uisce Éireann plants around the country are being blocked.

This afternoon, an agreement was reached with protesters outside the Foynes fuel depot to allow a truck carrying chemicals for the treatment of drinking water to pass the blockade.

The truck, which has been stuck behind the blockade since Monday night, left Foynes and is on the way to Antrim.

Uisce Éireann said there are no current interruptions to customer supplies due to the blockade at ports.

Govt should 'pick up the phone' to protesters - Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said she thinks "it is wrong" for the Government to "take action to escalate" the fuel depot protests and blockades.

However, she did not directly respond to two questions on whether the Government was correct to send in the Defence Forces or if she agreed entirely with the actions of protesters.

Speaking during a neutrality policy launch in Dublin, Ms McDonald said the Taoiseach and Tánaiste Simon Harris should "pick up the phone" to protesters.

Asked who specifically they should speak with to de-escalate the situation, the Sinn Féin leader said: "I think they know well who."
"The ball is now in the court of Government," she said, adding that "rather than escalate, they need to lift the phone and hear what they need to say".

Asked specifically what she would say to the protesters, Ms McDonald said she does not want to see "disruption" in the city or people "sleeping in tractors" on O'Connell Street, adding "people should engage respectfully".

Independent Ireland said it is "deeply concerning" that the Government is calling in the Defence Forces rather than picking up the phone to engage.

In a statement, the party said the Government has refused to listen and to meaningfully engage with thousands of businesses impacted "by their tax policies".

The party said the Government's approach has escalated the situation but there is still scope for mediation.

Independent Ireland called for calm on all sides and for "immediate meaningful engagement to resolve the situation before it escalates".

One of those protesting is John Dallon, a farmer from Kildare, who said the protest will not be called off.

He is one of four people put forward to the Tánaiste's office by Fine Gael Senator Paraic Brady to speak to the Government on behalf of protesters.

The HSE has called for all approaches to medical facilities around the State to be kept clear for users, especially vulnerable patients, to access treatment.

Disruption to public transport in Dublin
Dublin Bus advised customers that a number of road closures will remain in place across the capital as a result of protests and that delays and disruptions are being experienced across the city.

"We wish to advise customers that due to fuel price protests, we are experiencing ongoing severe disruptions and delays across the Dublin Bus network," Dublin Bus said in a statement.

Green line Luas trams are not operating between St Stephen's Green and Dominick due to the protest blocking the tracks at O'Connell Bridge.

Several tractors remain parked along Dublin's O'Connell Street.

#DBSvcUpdate Road closures remain in place this morning as a result of a protest.

We are experiencing service disruptions across the Dublin Bus network, please allow additional travel time.

More details here: https://t.co/iybbl02cun — dublinbusnews (@dublinbusnews) April 9, 2026
Green Line passengers, please be advised Green Line services are currently not operating between St.

Stephen's Green and Dominick.

Services are operating between Broombridge and Dominick and between St.

Stephen's Green and Brides Glen only.

This is due to a protest at O'Connell… — Luas (@Luas) April 9, 2026