The protests over fuel costs

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I support them ..they seem like decent, hard working people who are at the end of their tether. Threatening them (as the Guards Representative did earlier) is not the way forward.

@Anonanonanonagain I wasn't aware that the government didn't have the power to reduce fuel prices. That's an interesting point. Would they however, have the power to reduce the amount of tax on fuel though? Obviously as the price of fuel goes up, the government gets more money in their pocket, but would they have the power to reduce the amount they receive? That seems to be where a lot of the anger comes from-the rich profiteering whilst the poorer get poorer. FWIW I don't support the protests but I absolutely understand their anger

I’m angry that taxpayers money is used to help pay people’s energy bills when energy companies put up prices and yet are earning millions in profits. Billions worldwide.
Check out Centrica who acquired Bord Gais in 2014.
Bord Gais profit was €72.5 million in 2025.
Why did prices need to go up ?
It’s the greed of the energy companies that causes problems.
Why can’t the government tackle this issue ?

I have empathy for the issue, but when people like John Dallon say “ well shut down the country for a month”, I think sorry John I don’t remember being given the opportunity to vote for you?!

I've read that a lot of fuel tax money is put aside to assist people to insulate their houses. 600m apparently. But even so , very few people can afford to retrofit their houses. So couldn't this money be used to offset a temporary cut in fuel tax ? FFFG are handling this quite badly. They always cave in to farmers and other businesses to whom they are beholden , so from their point of view , it would have been better to do so last week.

You don't often see farmers or hauliers turning up to support other people with their grievances? Honourable exceptions no doubt. In this regard it is surprising to see some Travelling People get involved. My next door neighbour is a Traveller. Single mother , teetotaler - bit of a fitness fanatic. Some of my other neighbours were a bit dismayed when she moved in. I'm ashamed to say I was a bit worried myself seeing their reaction. But she's as good as gold.

Seeing as all the racist grifters and shit stirrers are piling in behind the fuel blockades this is even more inexplicable. Peter Casey built his whole campaign to be President on bad mouthing Travellers etc. Hard to see this little romance lasting !

I’m middle class. My car is 15 years old and it’s either that or pay €300/€400 hire purchase for something newer which is an expanse I’m choosing not to incur as my outgoings are high enough.

I’m not blissfully unaware of day to day issues neither are most middle class people I know.

And the good looking young guy the internet is swooning over is a crane driver. If class was defined by income he’s probably at least as “middle class” as I am if not more so.

There is a wealth gap in Ireland between the very richest and the poor, but a lot of middle middle class people are probably not a lot better off, if at all, than farmers etc who would see themselves as working class.

I don’t think farmers see themselves as working class?

No. Farmers see themselves as farmers. They are defined as their own group in socio demographic groupings in Irish documents. They obviously have completely different income levels depending on their farm.

@Dontlletmedownbruce we are a middle to high income family with an electric car. I don’t really understand how you were blissfully unaware of the issues. The cost of living has truly sky rocketed over the last few years. The economy is booming but public services are still dreadful and the housing crisis ends up impacting everyone.

The top 10% of households in Ireland hold almost 50% of the wealth.

This is the point I was badly trying to make.

That post comes across a bit oh darling I simply wasn’t aware that there was a cost of living crisis & my local shop ran out of oat milk.

Most middle class people I know are impacted by the COL crisis.

I know several people in that top 10% and they live on another planet. But that is not the experience of the average person in a middle class urban area.

Not to mention that most middle income people can’t afford to live in those areas.

We live in an “up and coming” area. In a house built for people with low incomes. And those people with low incomes are often facing a precarious living situation.

Something has gone badly wrong for sure.

Regardless of the label etc in this protest they see themselves as a group deserving of tax cuts/support because of the level to which they are struggling.

It’s very unclear to me who this group are. I can see how an average haulier self employed one truck is struggling. But the fella who popped up on news is a crane driver who are well paid & in high demand. One of the organisers has a tax bill of half a million euro so safe to say not struggling either.

And lots of groups are struggling. An SNA can be on €25k. As I someone said upthread, the farmers weren’t out supporting them.

@Dontlletmedownbruce I am dying to know where you live now that you haven't until this protest known about the cost of living crisis. Im in a leafy suburb myself but I saw the electricity credit going towards my bills over the past few years which every home owner got middle class or not, I have seen the prices of a weekly shop go up and while it thankfully has no affected my life in any way I would be blind not to see it. Absolutely everything has gone up in the past couple of years and unless you only got the internet into your home in the last week I fail to see how you have been in blissful ignorance about this.

Micheál Martin riling everyone up on the news

Hi
I don't live in Ireland but one of DH's friends is meant to go for work next week to Dublin, and they're talking about cancelling it

I'm not 100% sure what's going on
This isn't just about fuel prices is it?

And now I'm hearing something about a general strike tomorrow is that true or is it just social media fuss

To be honest, social media looks quite supportive, but I had a look on here and obviously it's completely different information

The strike tomorrow is online bullshit and some people are saying they are closing their business down for the day etc but I doubt it will happen and if it does and a few thick idiots close their doors it will be a minority.

The protests started out as being about fuel but the usual imbeciles then tried to make it about immigrants. They are peaceful just now not actually for what they were initially meant to be for. There is no rioting or anything it is quite safe so if your friend has to come here to work then so be it but it might just be worse traffic if some are still protesting and trying to close off some roads.

I agreed with him, blocking our one oil refinery in an oil shortage is the most stupid thing done to date. They cannot gauge what that orange prick in the states is going to do next so they cannot give 100% information on if prices will fluctuate again what they did was give us a reduction for now and for the foreseable. Their hands are tied because of trump.

@Anonanonanonagain thanks I think the warehouse is quite close to where protest are happening

There are protests all over but to be honest most have wound down now. There will be some out there still of course but nothing like last week and the weekend, kids are back in school for a start and most of us cant afford to take days off or close whole businesses because of this even if wanted to.

https://youtube.com/shorts/cXqpGB-xUw8?si=i-Ak0Qzn8XP199Nj

We still have about 80 guardai in our village. Checkpoints on every road into it. The amount of bloody troublemakers coming down for the craic was reduculous. They were being made turn around tk fk.
And as for the mess left behind? Disgusting.
It was shameful the entire thing.
Protest all ya like but that was just thuggery.

@Doteycat half of them will have to sign on tomorrow so they will be gone soon hopefully ;)

They are gone.
The guards are here to ensure safe passage for the oil trucks in and out as the drivers were being threatened. Also to protect the staff of the refinery for the same reason. Nd to make sure no thugs try start it again.
Village is like a warzone. Barriers everywhere.
Fuck their protests.

They’ll be fine. There is zero chance of a general strike.

The worst thing that could happen is that there is a traffic jam. There is no general unrest or whatever they are worried about. Accounts originating from Europe and beyond are amplifying fake content that suggests there is unrest.

Convoys starting here again in the morning from 7am to 10am and again from 4pm to 7pm. We’re a commuter town and they'll be going between here and Cork, timed for maximum disruption. Similar planned elsewhere. Traffic will be chaotic.

Outrageous.
And schools are back tomorrow.
They dont give a shit about people. Its going to be bedlam.