New fuel supports announced after days of protests

The Government has signed off on more than €500 million in measures to support those struggling with rising energy costs.

It follows almost a week of blockades and protests which disrupted fuel supplies around the country, crippled road networks and brought Dublin City Centre to a standstill.

An Garda Síochána said the declaration of an "exceptional event" has been extended.

An "exceptional event" is invoked when the force is dealing with an emergency or unforeseen event and it allows the cancellation of rest days and the redeployment of gardaí to other areas as required.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin warned that those who continue with blockades will face the full rigour of the law.

He added that the support measures are a significant response to real pressures being felt by people.

The supports include direct payments to hauliers, bus operators, farmers, agricultural contractors and those involved in fisheries.

The big move by Government is the further 10c cut in excise on both petrol and diesel to the end of July.

There will also be a new reduction of 2.4c on green diesel.

The carbon tax increases have been delayed until the Budget in October.

The size of the package announced is around €505 million - and it comes on top of €250 million worth of measures announced almost three weeks ago.

The Transport Support Schemes will be enhanced for all haulage operators, which will include local link and school transport providers and some commercial operators.

A fuel subsidy support scheme will be introduced for farming and fisheries.

The political reception has been cold - Sinn Féin will table a no confidence motion in the Government in the coming days.

That motion will have the support of several Opposition parties.

Fianna Fáil will hold an early parliamentary party meeting today to prepare for what could prove to be another challenging week politically for the Government.

Watch: Taoiseach announces fuel package worth €505m
The Taoiseach said the package of measures agreed by the Government is "a significant response to real pressures being felt here and globally".

Mr Martin said these "extra, important, temporary measures" will be implemented to directly help people who have been directly impacted by the global crisis in energy supply resulting from the war in the Middle East.

The package was agreed following a special Cabinet meeting at Government Buildings this evening.

Tánaiste Simon Harris said there was ongoing engagement with the European Commission around the reduction in excise duty.

He said the reductions in fuel will come into effect from midnight on Tuesday, subject to Oireachtas approval.

Mr Harris said the Government took the measures following engagement with the democratically elected, national representative organisations.

He said the Government will always engage with civil groups and elected representatives.

"But we cannot be expected to reasonably or rationally engage with self-appointed spokespeople, unelected bodies and those who would instigate an illegal blockade of some of this country's most critical infrastructure at a time of a global energy crisis."
Transport support scheme backdated to 1 March
The Government's new Transport Support Scheme to help hauliers and those in the food and agri-industries will be backdated to 1 March.

Minister of State at the Department of Transport Seán Canney said the scheme will be based on the Licenced Haulage Support Scheme and is intended to "help and support those who are vital in our economy".

Minister Canney said the scheme will cover licenced hauliers and will also be opened up to "certain other sectors within transport".

A separate support scheme will be developed that will financially support Local Link and School Transport services, he said.

Minister Canney said the payments will be backdated to 1 March.

Farmers, fisheries, agricultural contractors and island transport will all benefit, the minister said.

Regarding the protests and blockades, Minister Canney said: "The last week has been rather difficult for everybody."
He said he had no problem with people protesting, but it was not "right or acceptable" when a protest curbs people's freedom of movement around the country.

IRHA welcomes support package agreed with Government
Irish Road Haulage Association President Ger Hyland welcomed the package of supports agreed with the Government.

In a statement, Mr Hyland thanked his negotiating team for what he described as their "hard work and commitment over what has been a challenging time for the industry".

He said: "Myself, and our management committee, are unpaid volunteers who have negotiated in good faith with Government over the past week.

"We feel we have delivered the best outcome that was possible for our members and the wider transport community.

"We feel that this package of supports is fair and balanced and will help to mitigate the worst effects of the rising fuel prices on what is a very hard-working industry."
Read more: Live: Updates as they happen O'Connell Street expected to fully reopen within hours after garda operation Ireland beginning to 'claw back' fuel supply - Fuels for Ireland 'We came to make a point, and we've done that' - Foynes protester
Sinn Féin to table no confidence motion in Government
Sinn Féin is to table a no confidence motion in the Government next week.

The party has accused the Government of not listening to the public and not accepting the scale of the crisis.

It added that the Government's announcement will amount to nothing more than half measures.

Aontú has also called on all Opposition parties to back the motion of no confidence.

Meanwhile in a statement, Independent Ireland said it will support the proposed motion of no confidence in Government.

"This Government has failed to listen and failed to address the concerns of people across Ireland.

This is not limited to hauliers, farmers, and contractors, but extends to hard-working people throughout the country who continue to struggle under the policies of this and previous governments," it said.

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns said the party would also support the motion.

"These protests are a manifestation of how desperate many people feel as costs continue to soar - not just for fuel, but for everything in this country," she said.

"People are increasingly struggling to pay for the basics - food, energy and housing - and the Government is just not listening to them.

They are out of touch and out of ideas.

Ms Cairns said the Social Democrats have demanded that the Government introduce a targeted €400 energy credit, as well as other support measures.

People Before Profit said it will also be supporting the motion of no confidence in the Government.