Roads in Waterford and around the country were faced with huge disruption as a large vehicle protest took over the city centre.

Widespread disruption had been reported, including in other towns nationwide like Athlone, Ennis and Castlebar – while parts of Galway, Limerick and Cork are at a standstill – and Dublin’s O’Connell Street was entirely blocked off.

Demonstrators, which include farmers, agricultural contractors and bus and lorry drivers, are calling for the government to cut tax on diesel.

Protestors are also calling for a price cap to be introduced, as farmers, contractors and hauliers struggle to make ends meet.

Protests in Waterford saw a number of small convoys travelling through the city, beeping horns and holding up traffic.

An Garda Síochána reported numbers between 25 and 30 vehicles driving towards The Mall.

The Irish Road Hauliers association have reinforced the fact that they are not associated with the protest, however they do understand the struggles that the protesters are going through.

Sinn Fein TD’s were in attendance during the protests and raised concerns about the level of supports as well as measures introduced to help with the crisis.

TD David Cullinane said that there is alot of anger behind the protests:

“We are seeing the anger being reflected across the state. Protests were organised nationwide so quite evidently there is plenty of anger about the issue. We believe the Dail should be sitting this week to address the issue.”

Meanwhile fellow Sinn Fein TD Conor McGuinness said that more needs to be done.

We are saying very clearly that additional measures need to be introduced, governments response and their measures have not made any real differences, more needs to be done to help the people.”

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