The Taoiseach has heavily criticised fuel protestors for bringing the capital to a standstill for a second day in a row.

Tractors, lorries and coaches continue to move in slow convoys across major roads and streets, with many parked on O’Connell Street and along the quays.

They have caused major disruption to public transport in the city centre, specifically regarding Dublin Bus and Luas services.

07/04/'26 A convoy of trucks, vans and tractors pictured this morning on the N4 eastbound at Palmerstown , as they head into the city centre during a go-slow protest about rising fuel prices......Picture Colin Keegan, Collins, Dublin.
Fuel protestors have caused significant disruption across the country. Pic: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin

Luas advised passengers on Wednesday morning that Green Line services are currently not operating between St. Stephen’s Green and Dominick.

It stated: ‘Services are operating between Broombridge and Dominick and between St. Stephen’s Green and Brides Glen only. This is due to a protest at O’Connell Bridge. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.’

Dublin Bus also stated that the protests are causing ‘severe delays’ across the network and ‘diversions in the City Centre’.

Many vehicles are parked on O’Connell Street and along the quays. Pic: Sasko Lazarov / RollingNews.ie

The M7 motorway is still closed at the Portlaoise Bypass, with traffic at a complete standstill in some areas.

Meanwhile, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has slammed the protests, labelling them as ‘wrong’.

Martin declared: ‘To prevent mobility, to prevent people from accessing livelihoods, medical appointments, disrupting day-to-day activities in the manner that has happened is wrong and is a wrong form of protest.’

The Taoiseach said that while the right to protest is accepted, ‘what is not acceptable is people declaring that we will turn O’Connell Street into a car park’.

He brought up the government’s recent €250m package, which saw a cut in fuel excise, describing it as the ‘most generous package in Europe’.

Martin said that increases in oil and gas prices are out of the government’s control.

Simon Harris added that there is an adequate fuel supply in Ireland and expects that there will not be a lag in prices coming down.

Meanwhile, protestors at Lough Atalia in Galway say there’ll be ‘no oil in or out of’ the county until their goal is achieved.

The fuel depot in Galway is totally blocked, with 20 trucks remaining in the city overnight to join the blockade. 

There appears to be no end in sight to the protests, with the organisation, calling itself the People of Ireland Against Fuel Prices Protest, saying that it will continue on Thursday.

The group stated on Facebook: ‘Families, workers, farmers, hauliers, recovery drivers, fishermen, builders, small businesses, and ordinary people can no longer carry the burden of crippling fuel prices, rising costs, and endless taxes.

‘We are asking everyone who is not driving in the convoys to come out and support us from bridges, roadsides, town approaches, and safe public areas, waving Irish flags in solidarity. Show the country that the people are united.’

The protest locations for Thursday include Dublin, Waterford, Wexford, Sligo, Donegal, Clare, Limerick, Cork, Portlaoise, Tullamore, Portumna, Banagher Bridge and Athlone.