The Government has come in for criticism for refusing to meet the fuel protesters, including from within its own ranks. Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald said the Government should not only meet the protesters but act on their demands. [ Fuel protesters’ blockade of Ireland’s only oil refinery to stay ‘until diesel capped’Opens in new window ]The first is that the Government is not convinced that one meeting would be the end of it all. Any meeting would likely only inform the protesters of that – which may be unlikely to persuade them to stand down the blockades. Government regularly disagrees with trade unions and other interest groups – but it maintains a regular dialogue with them.

Source: The Irish Times April 09, 2026 19:36 UTC