Protests continue with large turnout in Navan ahead of Government announcement on measures to address cost of fuel

Dozens of trucks, tractors, and several hundred supporters converged on Navan today in a show of solidarity with those protesting in Dublin and elsewhere over the cost of fuel.

The national day of protest, that saw similar gatherings held in provincial cities and towns across the country, came ahead of a package of measures due to be announced by Cabinet later today (Sunday).

Direct support for hauliers along the lines of what was in place during Covid-19 pandemic could be signed off by Cabinet this evening.

RTE reports that an extension of the diesel rebate scheme beyond June is also seen as likely while there are expected to be measures for farmers and the fishing sector too, particularly in the area of credit lines and cash flow.

On the question of further cuts to excise duty on fuel and oil, the Government remains in contact with the European Commission to see if there is the flexibility to do this.

It's also understood that Fianna Fáil TDs and Senators have been summoned to Dublin early tomorrow morning for a parliamentary party meeting in Leinster House at 11am.

Speaking at this morning's Meath protest event which began at 11am in Navan Retail Park and before a convoy of vehicles, with horns blaring, travelled down through the down before dispersing, Meath West and Sinn Fein TD, Johnny Guirke said his party was ready to put down a No Confidence motion in the Government tomorrow if the measures (Government) announce were "half baked" and said he was calling out the "Healy Raes and Independents propping up the Government in there".

Acknowledging the supporters of the fuel protest and those who took part he said: "You're here because you have to. You're good people who face your businesses going to the wall. People will go to the wall. And what we have to think about today as well is the old people, who cannot afford to heat their homes, Who looks out for them?

Fellow Meath West TD and Aontú leader, Peadar Tóibín also addressed the crowd and said: "Two things come out of this. First of all, these are ordinary people. These are people who just want to make a living. They want to be able to pay the mortgages, they want to pay able to pay the finance of their vehicles and to put food on the tables.

"These individuals do not want to lose their jobs and become unemployed. The reason why these individuals are in trouble is because this governments have taxes, fuel, at a rate that's just unacceptable. We're talking about 65% of the price of fuel at the moment is government taxes.

"The second thing that came out here as well is that these people are actually more representative currently, of the people of Ireland, than Fianna Fail and Fine Gael and the Independence.

"It's very clear in today's (Sunday Independent) poll, the majority of people back this campaign. They backed the campaign to reduce fuel taxes. So whatever package that (Government) creates in the next number of hours, it cannot be a half big measure.

"It cannot be a measure that does not go to the heart of what's needed to solve this crisis. We need to significantly reduce the cost of petrol, diesels, homeheating oil, and green diesel, to be able to make sure that this country can get back to work."

Speaking on RTÉ's This Week, Minister Timmy Dooley said said that the Government had good engagement with hauliers, farmers and contractors on Friday and yesterday and they have brought their ask to Government and it's being considered.

"The Government has listened, with Government officials and department officials, we're trying to put together a package of measures that will assist the heavy and large diesel users and fuel users through this difficult time. But it's not possible to resolve every aspect that this war has created for our economy.

"Any package of measures, it will be considerable additional support to what's there, but it comes at a cost," he added that the country cannot be in a position of "moral hazard" that whatever measures are quickly eaten up by the the international oil crisis, saying that this happened when the last measure was announced around excise duties.

"As of now, there is no final package. It's being worked through with officials in the Department of Public expenditure, the Department of Finance, and the Department of Transport and Agriculture."

Meanwhile Deputy Darren O'Rourke who also spoke at the Navan protest said he was "proud of the Irish people for standing up and standing in solidarity. This week every TD will have the chance to do the same as we vote on Sinn Féin’s no confidence motion."

He also called on Gillian Toole TD to withdraw her support for the government.

"Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael won’t break ranks but after a disgraceful track record of denial, delay, half-measures on fuel prices; arrogance and ignorance in response to protests; and then worse - pepper spay, the riot squad and the threat of the Defence Forces, the big question is do government-supporting Independent TDs has confidence in the government?

"In Meath East, I am the only TD that does not support this Government. So, 3 out of 4, 75 per cent, of the TDs in Meath East support the government. Is anyone seriously suggesting that 75 per cent of the people in Meath East support the government - especially after this week’s events?! I don’t think so.

"I am calling on Meath East TD Gillian Toole, who was fully supported in her election by Senator Sharon Keogan, to withdraw her support from government."

In a statement issued on her social media channels earlier, Independent Deputy Gillian Toole said she understood the "anger and the frustration that people are feeling at this point in time."

"I get it. It was one of my main motivations for getting involved in politics and being elected as a councillor and then as a TD at the end of 2024.

"I'm also of the belief that you need to be in the room and you need to be at the table to put forward solutions that you have to bring life experience and expertise to the table. I have been sending suggestions for cost containment, for improvements that can be made in the whole area of agriculture, of haulage, of fuel costs, public transport, etc.

"I conveyed all of those to the Taoiseach and Minister Sean Canney within our independent group and I will continue to do that. In my opinion, a solution can be found in the tax system to reduce taxes on fuel. I have no doubt about that.

"I've gone back, I've looked at figures as far back as 1979, the price of a barrel of oil, then, and the taxes then, and similarly more recently since 2019, 2020. There is room there, but coupled with reductions in taxation, whether vac's temporary and reviewed frequently or over the next six to 12 months and again with continuous review, if we have costs contain, if we have efficiency and we have productivity and basically reduce wasting money, it is possible to have a fairer system."