'We're losing livelihoods': Fuel price protest continues in Limerick with major traffic delays

PROTESTERS demanding caps on fuel prices remain on the M7 motorway this Wednesday.

Limerick motorists are being advised to plan accordingly for commutes as this may continue into the coming days. The flyover on the Old Cork Road outside Limerick city on the M7 motorway was deserted on Wednesday morning.

Traffic all over the city is practically at a standstill as a result.

The People Of Ireland Against Fuel Prices Protest have issued an update, saying that they will continue their nationwide rolling protest on Thursday. In Limerick protesters will drive from various areas such as Beary’s Cross, Daly’s Cross, Croom, and Bunratty Village feeding into the rolling route from J29 M7 to J2 N18.

READ MORE: BREAKING: Limerick motorists face delays on main routes amid nationwide fuel price protests

Richard O'Donoghue TD said the protesters were at Ballysimon road overnight and said the same routes that were disrupted on Tuesday on the M7 motorway in both directions between J28 & J29 will be affected.  

"No Minister has contacted them, and they just want to meet the Minister. They want him to take on board what they're saying so it's up to the minister now whether he wants this to end or not. It's a very simple demand... They want the fuel cost on white diesel capped for tax.

The Limerick TD explained: "What they're looking for is green diesel to be capped at a euro, kerosene to be capped at a euro... If you look at it five weeks ago, you could buy a gallon of fuel for a car or whatever you were buying a gallon of fuel for. You could buy it for about €6.70. You're now paying €10.21 for the same gallon of fuel, which you are now paying €5.10."

Deputy O'Donoghue said if we don't tackle this issue now, then businesses won't last another two weeks.

"Building will stop. Everything will stop because fossil fuels are the thing that actually drive inflation.

"Unless we get this under control, every single item in your shop that you're buying in your groceries are going to move by 10 per cent. Everything in your fridge will move by 10 per cent."

Deputy O'Donoghue added that people are saying that the rise in fuel costs is due to the war. 

"It's not about the war. If fuel gets tight, fuel gets tight. It's about the taxation system and percentage, the way they do fuel. The higher it goes, the more they get. That has to be capped. If that's capped, people can then deal with it. And people then can forecast their business for twelve months.

"I took a truck into the Dáil two years ago protesting over the cost of fuel and the tax of fuel, and people were laughing and jeering at me. They're not laughing now," concluded the local TD.

Colm Walsh from Knocklong is one of the protesters in Limerick. He works in timber haulage and said he can't believe the  amount of people taking part in the protest from all areas of the country. "We have to keep going," he said. "It's not a choice for us. We're losing livelihoods. They're going to be gone."

The local man said they're feeling very optimistic as to what the government are going to do. 

"We're going to wait and see. After a long night last night and a lot of stressed people this morning fellas actually have a pep in their step this morning because they can see the support that's coming out again. But everyone knows how important this is."

Mr Walsh added that the pressure is crippling the haulage sector. "It's absolutely crippling farmers and contractors... It has to end in capped fuel prices. There's no incentive is going to change anyone's mind here... It has to be capped fuel prices so people can be certain of their future.

He concluded: "Once diesel goes up in the haulage and agricultural sector, everything for the person at home goes through the roof."