The Irish Truckers and Haulage Association Against Fuel Prices is holding a day-long demonstration in Dublin, following a similar protest last month.

Duncan Graham, Managing Director of Retail Excellence, said every industry is under fire at present and retailers have some sympathy for the plight of the hauliers – but that sympathy is rapidly running out.

“At this time of the year, retailers take in approximately €200 million every day, and it beggars belief that one group would act in this way to restrict access to the capital city and in doing so, imperil livelihoods at a time when every trading day counts,” he said.

He said that Dublin had been particularly badly affected by Covid restrictions and that this protest comes at the worst possible time.

“Footfall in Dublin city centre is down by 30% on 2019 levels, as people continue to steer clear of the capital and instead shop online or in suburban shopping centres.

“This action by truckers and hauliers is a body-blow which will drive another nail into the coffin of many city centre retailers who are in desperation mode now.”

Mr Graham said in any normal year, the Christmas period is critical for retailers.

“This year – after months of enforced closures, decreased footfall, the increased cost of trade, severe weather disruption and having to contend with the same fuel prices that hauliers are protesting against – it will be the difference between survival and closure,” he said.

The protests call for “lower fuel costs at the pump and at home”.

Drivers who participated in the protest also expressed concern over fuel rebate levels, driver shortages, taxes and other operational costs.

Simon Harris said Cabinet will consider energy proposals on Tuesday. Speaking on The Week in Politics, he said there are number of ways the Government can help, and inflationary pressure is expected to ease next year.

Mr Harris added that a “splinter group” should not blockade the motorways and that this protest is not required by hauliers.

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Streets around Leinster House were blocked off by gardaí in advance of the protest.

A group of truckers and hauliers – naming itself the Irish Truckers Haulage Association Against Fuel Prices – is calling for “lower fuel costs at the pump and at home”, and said it wants “lower costs and lower taxes, rebates are no good.”

The group called for a “peaceful protest” and advised those taking part to keep hard shoulders and bus lanes free.

The Irish Road Haulage Association distanced itself from the group and the protest, with President Eugene Drennan saying it was difficult to engage with the group as it is “faceless”.

“It is very hard to know who or what they are. While their goals might be similar to what we are negotiating towards, we don’t know exactly what they want,” he said.

In a posting on Facebook, the Irish Truckers Haulage Association Against Fuel Prices group listed meeting points on the M1, M2, M3, M4, M7, and M11 motorways and said HGV and LGV owner operators intended to travel towards the Dáil.

“All roads lead to Kildare Street or as far as we can get. When we stop don’t move,” the post said.

But it asked participants to “have some consideration” for emergency vehicles.

“We don’t want any trouble or vigilante groups to act up. Stay at home if that’s your plans please,” it said.

The post also raised the possibility of an additional protest in the week before Christmas.

Mr Drennan said the IRHA has “big grievances” with the Government and Minister for Environment Eamon Ryan, but members had decided they “did not want to cause any grief to the public before Christmas” – however, they reserved their right to protest in the New Year.

Independent TD Richard O’Donoghue, who drove the cab of an articulated truck to the Dáil yesterday, said the plan was for a peaceful protest that would be “respectful of people and emergency vehicles”.

Mr O’Donoghue said he drove the vehicle to the Dáil as part of his own “silent protest” to highlight the issue of a disparity of services and infrastructure outside cities and called for a “level-playing field for everyone”.

The TD for Limerick county called for increased investment in rural areas.

“It is about incentivising people, not crippling the country by taxing them. They are driving prices up and there’s no alternatives,” he said.

Under Budget 2022, the cost of petrol and diesel rose alongside a planned increase in the rate of the carbon tax.

The carbon tax increased another €7.50 to €41 per tonne and is due to continue to rise each year until it reaches €100 per tonne.

Petrol and diesel costs came into effect in October after the Budget announcement, with the price of a litre of each rising by 2.5c and 2.1c respectively.

That equates to around €1.28 extra for a 60-litre tank of petrol or a €1.48 jump for diesel.

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The Irish Road Haulage Association will hold a members meeting in the next fortnight to discuss protests following controversial emissions recommendations by the Climate Change Advisory Council.

The Association warned that members are already at breaking point with rising fuel costs, driver shortages and the Northern Ireland Protocol.

IRHA president Eugene Drennan said hauliers are deeply concerned about the impact a cut in emissions in the transport sector will have on the sector.

“We are deeply concerned about the emissions cuts. We have been labelled as a sector that is going to get a heavy cut,” said Mr Drennan.

While the level of sectoral cuts are yet to be revealed, he said his members cannot take any more.

“We are caught with something every week and our costs are at the highest level they have been -ever in the history of transport,” he said.

Mr Drennan said the Northern Ireland Protocol, increased carbon tax in the budget and a huge shortage of drivers means “costs are astronomically high”.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Mr Drennan said he hoped “an olive branch” would be held out by the Government to talk to hauliers.

“We cannot stand alone and take all these hits,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Irish Farmers’ Association has said it also wants dialogue with Government.

IFA president Tim Cullinan said the Carbon Budget will have a serious impact on rural communities – especially if cuts end up around the 21-30% mooted in the media.

“We are hearing consistently from Government that they want to revive rural Ireland. They need to protect the people who are driving the industry in rural Ireland, and that is the farmers,” Mr Cullinan said.

“I am calling on the Taoiseach, and the Tánaiste, at this point in time to sit down with us – the people who represent farmers – and come up with a plan around this in to the future.”

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