The Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) has said a cabinet meeting will be held on Sunday where an update on the ongoing fuel crisis talks will be given.
Hundreds of petrol stations in the Republic of Ireland have run out of fuel as the protests and blockades - involving slow-moving convoys made up of vehicles including tractors - continued for a fifth day.
Meetings between government ministers and representatives of farmers and hauliers to finalize a new government funding package have been ongoing since Friday.
On Saturday, fuel trucks regained access to an oil refinery in County Cork that had been subjected to a days-long blockade. Protesters who had been blocking trucks leaving the Whitegate Refinery were pushed back by gardaí (Irish police) using pepper spray, in an operation supported by the Irish Defence Forces.
The Garda Commissioner said a number of arrests were made during the operation, emphasizing that blockades are illegal and not a legitimate form of protest. He warned that serious offences could lead to long prison sentences.
The harbour master at Rosslare Europort reported potential disruptions to ferry services due to road blockades, while public transport in Dublin has also been heavily impacted.
Amid these developments, the National Emergency Coordination Group stated that fuel supplies for emergency vehicles, including ambulances and fire services, are under increasing pressure. The Taoiseach highlighted that the country is at risk of losing oil supplies during a global crisis.
The protests were incited by sharp rises in fuel prices linked to geopolitical tensions affecting oil supplies, with diesel prices surging significantly over the recent weeks.
