Traffic disruption and criticism as truck drivers stage protest in Dublin

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Traffic disruptions are expected in Dublin on Monday as a truck driver prepares to protest for the second time in a month.

They are asking for a drop in the price of fuel.

Articles on a page titled ‘Irish Truckers’ and Carriers Association Against Fuel Prices’ claim that thousands of vehicles will be involved in the protest in the capital.

They say it will be different from the last rally in November and “much more efficient”.

They asked the drivers to bring a travel bag with food and water, as the action is expected to “last longer than 24 hours”.

The Irish Road Haulage Association says the group’s tactics are “not the way to do business.”

Retail Excellence Ireland says the disruption of a key shopping day before Christmas will put livelihoods in its industry at risk.

Fine Gael adviser David McManus said blocking traffic was not fair to the general public.

“Unfortunately, this protest was planned to be as disruptive as possible to commuters trying to get to work.

“The organizers clearly did not learn the lessons from the last time, because the people who will suffer from this event are the sick and vulnerable people who will miss their vaccine and their hospital appointment.

“They are going to be the collateral damage of this demonstration.

“There is no reason why this protest cannot start at 10 am and outside government buildings like many other protests.

“Having it at 7am on our highways is misguided and completely unnecessary.”

Gardaí urges people to cycle or walk to avoid getting caught in traffic jams – or to take public transport if they can.

“Nuclear button”

The DublinTown group of companies says the “nuclear button was pressed” during the protest, before serious negotiations took place.

Its CEO, Richard Guiney, told Newstalk Breakfast, “There are a lot of jobs at stake, a lot of struggling businesses.

“I guess the question is what negotiations and discussions took place before there was such a protest like this?

“I think leadership involves having discussions and showing leadership before you press the nuclear button.

“And it looks like the nuclear button was pressed before serious negotiations took place.

“Fuel prices go up, they go down – everyone knows that – we’ve all seen it in our utility bills, for example.

“There are discussions to be had with retail groups; I’m not aware of any of these taking place on how costs like this can be incorporated into the overall cost process ”.

Main image: A convoy of trucks on Merrion Square South in Dublin in November 2021, as a group called the Irish Truckers Haulage Association Against Fuel Prices drives a convoy of vehicles through the city center. Photo by: Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie

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