Defence forces will assist police in ensuring an end to a blockade of fuel supplies, the government says.
“The blocking of critical national infrastructure will not be permitted to continue and the assistance of the Defence Forces has been requested”, said Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan TD in a statement released this morning.
“Large vehicles blocking critical infrastructure will be removed. Owners of those vehicles should remove them immediately this morning and should not complain later about any damage caused to those vehicles during removal.”
It comes as the fuel crisis enters its third day with Transport Infrastructure Ireland again reporting wide spread blockages on key motorways and arteries throughout Ireland.
The government says that bringing in the armed forces is justified and legal.
“It is well established in law that the Defence Forces may assist An Garda Síochána in aid to the civil power, when requested and when required.”
The Department of Justice also claimed that access to petrol pumps is a human right.
“Denying people access to fuel and clean water is an unacceptable interference in the most basic of human rights”, it said.
The blockades are in response to rising fuel prices triggered by the war in Iran.
A two-week ceasefire was agreed earlier this week by the US and Iran but it is unclear whether that will lead to a peace deal and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, through which at least one quarter of the world’s oil supplies travel.
Oil prices have fallen since that ceasefire was agreed, but remain well above pre-war levels.
In a statement last night, Tánaiste Simon Harris said:
“The blocking of the distribution of fuel is a sinister and despicable attack on our economy and our society. This is not a lawless country. The laws of the land must and will be applied without fear.
At a time of a major global energy crisis, blocking fuel from getting to people who badly need it is appalling in every sense and inflicts damage on our country and on individual people and businesses.
It cannot be tolerated.”
According to Transport Infrastructure Ireland, this morning there are serious delays on the M50 Southbound and many other routes around Dublin.
The following motorways are closed as of 08.30 am this morning:
M7 – J16 – J18 BOTH DIRECTIONS
M7 – J29 – J30 BOTH DIRECTIONS
M8 – J9 – J8 NORTHBOUND
M8 – J18- SOUTHBOUND
M18 – J2 – J1 – SOUTHBOUND
M18 – J11 – J14 NORTHBOUND