The Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) is not involved in Tuesday’s planned fuel price protest at various locations nationwide and has said it will not be participating in the demonstration.
The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) and the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association (ICSA) have also confirmed that they will not be taking part in an official capacity.
The Beef Plan Movement is supporting the protest, with a survey of its members stating that the vast majority support the move.
The protest is to take place at various locations across the country, including Dublin, and is not affiliated to any one organisation.
The IRHA said it is aware of a protest planned on the roads on Tuesday concerning rising fuel costs and pressures facing drivers, agri contractors and others in the transport industry.
“We fully understand, empathise with and share the frustration felt across the sector. Hauliers and transport operators continue to face significant challenges due to increased fuel prices and rising operating costs.
“However, the IRHA wishes to make it clear that, at this point in time, we are not involved in the organisation of this protest and will not be participating. Our focus remains on constructive engagement with the Department of Transport to deliver supports for our members,” a spokesperson for the association said.
We believe dialogue - not disruption - is the most effective way to deliver real solutions for our members
The IRHA said it had a very engaging meeting with Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien last Friday.
“We will be meeting him again shortly, along with officials from the department. We are keeping the lines of communication open and working on delivering further supports for our members to mitigate against surging fuel prices.
"The minister has committed to looking at potential options that may need to be deployed. The IRHA is actively involved in ongoing discussions with Government to secure practical, sustainable supports for the haulage sector.
"We believe dialogue - not disruption - is the most effective way to deliver real solutions for our members and the wider industry at this point in time,” it said.
ICMSA
ICMSA president Denis Drennan told the Irish Farmers Journal that the association would not be participating on any kind of official basis, but that he had “no doubt” that individual farmer members would be taking part or, certainly, supporting the aims of the protest.
“Just last week, I pointed out that farming and primary food production in Ireland is hurtling towards breakdown.
“We have green diesel that is indispensable to farming far outstripping ordinary white diesel in price rises, while the Government either looks on in indifference or takes a few cents per litre off while keeping their massive carbon tax.
“Does anybody in Government even understand that there are no electric tractors? This is not a matter of choice for farmers and between the surge in fuel, energy and fertiliser, we are fast coming up on the point where just getting up in the morning to work and produce food will be prohibitively expensive and farmers will just have to stop,” he said.
ICSA
Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, ICSA general secretary Hugh Farrell said: “ICSA members are free to take part in tomorrow’s protest and [the] ICSA won’t be discouraging any of our members from participating in the protest.
“However, [the] ICSA will not be taking an official part in tomorrow’s fuel protests. We will continue to lobby for solutions for our farmers members in relation to the current fuel crisis,” he said.
Independent Ireland said it fully supports the right of people to peacefully protest in order to have their voices heard.
"When a Government refuses to listen, peaceful protest becomes not just a right, but a necessary means of ensuring that the concerns of ordinary people are recognised and addressed," it said.
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