What you need to
know.
A neutral summary of the crisis, the protester demands, and the government position. Every claim is sourced in the timeline above.
What is happening
Since 7 April 2026, a loose coalition of hauliers, farmers, and private motorists has blockaded Ireland’s only oil refinery at Whitegate in east Cork, along with fuel depots at Foynes (Limerick) and in Galway. According to Fuels for Ireland, the industry body representing distributors, roughly half of the country’s fuel supply is now locked behind blockades. At least 100 forecourts have already run dry, with the worst of the shortages concentrated in Munster and the west, and reports suggest the number could reach 500 by tonight.
Disruption has spread beyond fuel supply: DPD has suspended deliveries, Dublin Bus and Luas services have been affected, and the M50, M7/N7, M8 and M9 have all seen blockade-related disruption. The Defence Forces have been placed on standby at Foynes and Whitegate, though no deployment has been ordered as of this morning.
Why prices rose in the first place
The crisis is the result of several pressures stacking at once: wholesale crude oil prices have risen sharply since tensions in the Strait of Hormuz earlier in the spring, carbon tax remains in place, and roughly 65% of the price at the pump in Ireland is made up of duties, VAT and levies. Diesel sat above €2.10 per litre nationally this week, up from €1.92 a month ago according to the CSO’s March 2026 focus report.
What the protesters are demanding
- A legal price cap on diesel
- Suspension of the carbon tax
- Re-opening of the Barryroe offshore gas field
- Recall of the Dáil from Easter recess
The demands are not uniform across all protest groups, and some organisers have added or modified these publicly during the week.
The government position
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said the government is open to talks only after blockades end, and will not dictate who forms part of the industry representative groups meeting ministers at Merrion Street today. The government points to the 20c/L diesel and 15c/L petrol excise cuts announced in March, a €250m support package, and the two-month NORA levy pause, arguing that further cuts are not fiscally feasible without breaking budget commitments.
Where the official bodies stand
Neither the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) nor the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) has endorsed the blockades as a protest tactic, though both have criticised the government’s response to the price crisis and called for further support for working drivers. The IRHA has described the current fuel prices as reaching the level of a “national emergency.”
What to do today
Drive only if necessary. Check the map above before leaving the house, and consider whether your journey can be delayed. If your local forecourt is dry, open the FuelWatch app and report it so your neighbours can see. The app is free and works in every county.
The AA Ireland — Fuel Prices