Fuel Protest Talks: Negotiators Set to Attend Government Meeting in Reported Breakthrough
Fuel protest negotiators are set to attend a Government meeting tomorrow in what is being described as a breakthrough, according to the Irish Times.
Protest negotiators are set to attend a Government meeting tomorrow in what is being described as a breakthrough in the fuel protest crisis, according to the Irish Times.
John Dallon, a farmer from Co Kildare, 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.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Dallon accused the Government of "holding the country to ransom" and said people have the right to peaceful protest.
"This protest does not just involve people that's in business, this involves nurses, doctors, everybody going to work that has to put diesel and petrol into their cars and buy food to put on the table, pay mortgages - this is all about the people of the island of Ireland that put that Government in power," he said.
The development comes as pressure on both sides has intensified sharply. According to Fuels for Ireland, 100 forecourts across the country have run dry, mainly in Munster and the west of Ireland, with CEO Kevin McPartlin warning the figure could be five times higher by Friday night.
According to The Journal, protesters in Foynes agreed to allow water treatment lorries and around 30 feed trucks through their blockade earlier today, with the first truck passing through within the last hour.
The Government has not yet issued a formal statement confirming the meeting.
