Saying people do not fully understand how serious the crisis is becoming, he added that “unelected and self-appointed people can't determine who gets oil in this country”. The Taoiseach said Ireland is at risk of losing its oil supplies as other countries scramble for fuel amid a global crisis. A large Garda presence is in place at Whitegate Oil Refinery on Friday morning. “We have an oil refinery that's processing product to finished product level. “It's not up to, with the greatest respect to everybody, unelected and self-appointed people [who] can't determine who gets oil in this country, can't determine who gets to hospital, can't determine who gets to the Rotunda via O’Connell Street.”The Taoiseach said there is currently no need to deploy the Defence Forces to Whitegate Oil Refinery, as it appears that tankers can go in.

Source: Irish Examiner April 10, 2026 14:30 UTC