Trump Culture has arrived in O Connell Street,

What on earth has Trump "Culture" (whatever that is) got to do with this protest?

It's much more like the French farmers/hauliers and others who block up the country's roads whenever they have a gripe. (Or the Paddystinians blocking the Port Tunnel - which they did but were hauled away when they wouldn't budge at the direction of Gardai.)

I came through town last night having come from Sutton and trying to go south via the N11 on the EI/E2 bus. There were dozens of Gardai on O'Connell Bridge just standing around not doing much, while the hauliers/farmers etc were gathered in groups nearby. It struck me that had I gone over to remonstrate with the protesters I'd probably be hauled away by the Gardai and arrested for a public order offence or something.

While I think the protesters have a strong point - especially in relation to the tax take on fuel, I think it's outrageous that they or any other group can completely block the city in such a way. There were thousands of people trying to get home from the Easter break as well as those working in retail, or others trying to get to work in hospitals etc. It'll be no different today.

Edit: I see Michael Martin has once again uttered his favourite phrase, "not acceptable". Well, don't bloody accept it then - you're the CEO of the country.

 
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They aren't just protesting fuel prices, there's also far right rhetoric on climate change, refugees etc
It's why major hauliers had nothing to do with it.

Abandoning a vehicle overnight blocking public transport routes has nothing to do with peaceful protest.
And if you can afford to do that - well, it nullifies entirely whatever claims being made about protesting to keep your business going.
 
I've just read on RTE that the protestors are now blocking many of the bus diversion routes as well. Also warning of blocking access to Dublin Airport. Completely outrageous behavior. I would give them an hour to start preparing to move away - or else bring in the water canons (or is that just exclusively for the "Far Right?")

Spot the difference:

m.independent.ie

Gardaí arrest 22 people after anti-immigration protesters block O’Connell Bridge

A total of 22 people were arrested after anti-immigration protesters blocked the O’Connell Bridge in central Dublin leading to travel chaos for commuters on Thursday.
m.independent.ie m.independent.ie

“Throughout the day, gardaí engaged with protestors and directions were given to those that had gathered at O’Connell Bridge to disperse from the area within the hour.

“This direction was not adhered to and two Garda Public Order Units were subsequently deployed.”
 
Sister Sara said:
How are the water canons going to move the heavy machinery? Will the water canons actually gain access through the traffic build-up
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the don't need to aim the water cannon at the protesters The protestors will move the Machinery
I suspect if the water cannons aimed at any opening it the machinery and cabs rather than they protesters the machinery would be move fast, a high pressure water cannon aimed at electronic equipment will get the machinery moving out of the way in less than an hour,
 
Sister Sara said:
How are the water canons going to move the heavy machinery? Will the water canons actually gain access through the traffic build-up?
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Any Fireman worth his salt could move a truck and, probably, a tractor.
They should be ordered to move and if they don't then their vehicles should be seized and sold off to partially cover the cost to the State incurred by the selfish and reckless actions of the protesters.

If the protesters can't cover their costs then they should put up their prices.
 
Sister Sara said:
Sounds like a recipe for a mass casualty event.
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no word in the grapevine and the machinery will get moved,
Water cannon any machinery put in the way of public transport , they are reported to be stopping public transport in places if the have as reported it is time to put a stop to it, and a water cannon will get the machinery moving out of the way,
 
Yeh but there are dozens of vehicles, if not hundreds, to move out of the way. I don't think it would be as straightforward as you are making out. If the vehicles are seized it may clear the road but will still cause further disruption to the supply of goods and services.

Likely it would prompt nationwide strikes causing even greater disruption. To water cannon the machinery to move it on sounds like a deliberate and wreckless endangerment of public safety. It would also probably destroy the machinery putting them out of business and causing even greater disruption of supply lines.

Better for government to agree to negotiate in return to end the protests. Let them put the figures on the table. If their livlihoods are being threatened then a fair deal would be reasonable in my opinion.
 
Freedom to protest is so important and a demonstration outside the Dáil or a march through city centre are fine. They get you in the news and people will be sympathetic. If a business owner is interviewed on RTE and says my margin was only X%, diesel costs mean I am making a loss, we will have to let people go... very obvious why they would protest.

But barricading ports, stopping public transport, blocking fire brigades, kids not being picked up from school, milk not being collected from farms? This is so destructive and counter-productive.
 
Relax folks, I was using the, "bring in the water-cannons" option more or less figuratively. But I can remember the glee among the mainstream media when they reported the Garda launch of new riot gear, including the water-cannons to deal with "extreme" protests.

While it would probably take the best part of a day to clear the streets fully I imagine the Gardai will have a plan to open up some key corridors around the city for public transport, emergency vehicles and others. That's where they could "get tough," with anyone who tried to prevent this. Same with access to and from Dublin Airport.

Edit at 17.30: Well it looks like they might be getting - not quite "tough" - but a little less soft.

www.irishexaminer.com

Gardaí instructed to ensure access to ports and fuel depots during protests

Government and gardaí respond to ongoing fuel protests, with concerns over disruption to transport, emergency services and supply chains
www.irishexaminer.com www.irishexaminer.com
 
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arbitron said:
But barricading ports, stopping public transport, blocking fire brigades, kids not being picked up from school, milk not being collected from farms? This is so destructive and counter-productive.
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On my journey today I was prevented from entering the M7, the slip road was blocked and then the Tullamore ring road was also blocked, sending everyone through the town. What possible good is that, it only serves to frustrate and impede the public. Now they are blockading the oil refinery in Cork, it's time for the Gardai to intervene and stop this lawlessness.
 
Government need to intervene and agree to a meeting or series of meetings. According to the protestors this will call off the protests with immediate effect.
 
Sister Sara said:
Government need to intervene and agree to a meeting or series of meetings. According to the protestors this will call off the protests with immediate effect.
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That would open the proverbial Pandora's Box. A precedent would be established that any time any group doesn't like a taxation policy or wants their sector shielded from international price fluctuations they can hold a gun to the head of the public.

If Hauliers can't make money then they need to increase their prices. If they haven't negotiated a fuel surcharge option then they are bad at running their business.
 
Their claims are ludicrous. A price cap on green and white diesel. Tried in the UK, total disaster for the States finances.

Paul Murphy abused on the street and Eddie Hobbs speaking for them. Tells you all you need to know.
 
The only place that there is any credible case to be made for protests to take place is outside the Whitegate refinery but that is also an act of utter stupidity.
 
They could blockade the US embassy as it is their actions which triggered all this but given they seem to have gone down the far right pro-Trump rabbit hole of course they are displaying cognitive dissonance and not associating cause and effect.
 
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