Fuel Protest (Read MOD NOTE on first post)

They might be in business but they shouldn't be, they aren't good business people if they can't take a few weeks high diesel prices. If you are in business for years and have no rainy day money in an account, you are sh1t at business.

Realistic and honest my friend.

Your boys packed up tractors when they saw the writing on the wall.

‘Fraid the Government took none of their guff.

If only Dublin had a metro. How many years waiting now? No protest would stop that unless the drivers decided to down tools.

When I think about the years and years it takes to get things done in this country I don't blame people getting annoyed about it. Children's hospital, Galway by pass, metro, Luas extension, DART electrification, Dublin bus routes often cancelled at no notice, derelict buildings allowed to fester for years, lack of housing, and lots of other things. We have the money and I can't understand why it takes so long to achieve fruition in many projects. Maybe we need the Japanese, Chinese or Spanish to get over here and show us how it's done.

Anyway, on a very selfish level I'm hoping the M50 and routes into town are ok. Have to bring someone to an important medical appointment, and god love him he was in bits worrying about getting there on time. Those are the things that many forget about, but we are expected just to plan ahead and cope. Not everyone is in a position to do that at short notice, nor should they have to either.

Apologies for the essay.

This Government have done a good job on this occasion. They took their time and responded maturely to the situation.

These unelected, self-appointed leaders targeted critical national infrastructure, the type of action you'd see during a war or an insurrection. Just because they weren't setting things on fire or fighting with people doesn't mean it wasn't extremely cynical and cruel. I could not support those actions. Had they encircled the Dail when it was in session or blockaded the American embassy, I would have had more time for them.

And the fact that the Government didn't cave to them or even invite them to the talks shows the lack of legitimacy of the permanently enraged agitators that were at the forefront of this and I applaud the Government for that. Glad to see they didn't capitulate to the Trump-like tactics.

Should/can the Government do more to curb the rising cost of living? Yes, definitely. And I'll challenge them on that come election time. Should they face no confidence when they have, ultimately, successfully de-escalated the situation? No, they did well.

And SF refused to condemn the protesters who blockaded critical infrastructure. I'll also remember that when they come canvassing.

There was numerous posters inciting the physical harm and murder of the protesters.

A lot of nut jobs on here.

Mary Lou and her shower went very quiet once they realised Pepper and the rest of that shower were up to their necks in it. If anything, SF have been temporarily sidelined in this whole incident

I am glad the gardai were able to clear the majority of the blockages. It was an awful situation for the past week with major disruptions.

There's some live streams online on tiktok on marches around the country. It was supposed to be about fuel costs but many were chanting about MM and wanting him out. Shouting about MM is not about fuel costs and do they realise that MM had nothing to do with the bull cram from American and Israel against Iran and the rising costs. He's not responsible for this and in fact he called for peace.

Also, what's the purpose of walking from one place to another place around towns and cities. It doesn't make sense. Like what another poster said a blockage outside the American embassy and Doonbeg, I would support.

Oh sweet summer child, how wrong you are.

There's a nefarious element behind those 'few clowns' - why do you think they're out there in the first place? Their own innate motivation?

Laws around Industrial Action are very strict. You may not wake up one day and decide to go on strike.

A union must hold a ballot of its members, and then if passed give notice to their employers if taking Industrial Action.

Breaking these rules is a quick way to land yourself in front of the courts.

It's nice to know most people aren't as crazy as Boards posters or the extreme elements of the protests.

Niall O'Connor from the Journal is still reporting from the protests on twitter but he mentioned a few other journalists had received threats to them and their families while covering the protests so that might have something to do with it.