Mary Lou McDonald urges Government to ‘pick up the phone’ and talk to protesters

Mary Lou McDonald has urged the Government to “pick up the phone” and speak with protesters blocking fuel depots and motorways in Ireland.

The Sinn Fein leader was speaking to the press on the third day of demonstrations over rising fuel prices, which have brought parts of the country to a standstill.

Asked about the decision by the Minister for Justice to call in the Defence Forces to assist gardai, she said: “The decision that needs to be made is for Micheal Martin and Simon Harris to lift the phone.

“Why on earth is the Government escalating this further? That’s not called for.

“What is called for now is respect, engagement and acknowledgement.”

Asked if she supported the protesters, she replied: “I support measures to make it possible for businesses to survive, for people to function, for farmers, for hauliers, for contractors and for others to go about their daily lives.”

She added: “I’m saying to the protesters what I am saying to Government – I don’t want to see disruption.

“I live in this town, in this city, I don’t want to see the disruption that we’re experiencing.

“I also don’t want to see people sleeping in tractors or other vehicles overnight.

“I don’t want to see anybody under the kind of effort and the pressure that people are suffering.”

Ms McDonald said her party had spent “weeks in the Dail” raising the rising cost of fuel “again and again”, and had given the Government “chapter and verse” about “what was happening in people’s homes, in people’s businesses, the pressure that people were under”.

The Social Democrats said the Government should “try to de-escalate” the situation by meeting organisers and hearing their concerns.

Party justice spokesman Gary Gannon said everyone had a right to protest but added that the blockading of fuel depots, motorways and large parts of the capital “is wrong”.

He said meeting organisers should be done on the “strict condition” that the protests across the country would end.

Labour leader Ivana Bacik said the party appreciates the “deep distress and frustration” experienced by hauliers, contractors and all those causing blockades, and recognised their right to protest.

However, she said: “We would urge protesters to end their blockades immediately as these are causing significant disruption to workers and families, many tens of thousands of whom are already in energy arrears and huge financial difficulties with a cost-of-living crisis.”

The party called on the Government to continue to engage with representative bodies and implement maximum price orders for fuel.

Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman said protesters should end their blockade before Defence Forces intervention is necessary, but added that the Government should introduce targeted energy credits “for the squeezed middle” and additional support payments for the most vulnerable.

People Before Profit said its proposals for price caps, free public transport and a universal energy credit funded by a data centre levy would have headed off Ireland’s energy price crisis.

Party TD Paul Murphy said the threat of Defence Forces intervention was “extremely worrying” and added that people had a right to protest without the army being sent against them.

Aontu leader Peadar Toibin blamed Government “stubbornness and intransigence” for the crisis, suggesting ministers should meet organisers.

Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins also called for de-escalation and said Government should facilitate talks with those involved, with his party favouring further action on fuel costs.