Ireland: protests against rising fuel prices
In Ireland, lorry drivers, farmers and taxi and bus companies have staged major protests in recent days against rising petrol and diesel prices. On Sunday protesters used their vehicles to block streets in and around Dublin and there were skirmishes with the police. The events draw criticism in the Irish press.
Unacceptable blockades
The Irish Times approves of the decision to have police remove the road blockades:
“It was about time the authorities took control. The actions by those involved had long gone beyond protest and were undermining the normal workings of society and the economy. Had they been allowed to go into this week, not only would the public have continued to face completely unreasonable restrictions on movement, but emergency services would have been gravely disrupted and lay-offs would have started in many businesses. ... Blockades hindering vital supplies and groups deciding who can drive down a roadway and who cannot are simply not acceptable.”
Demonstrators hit a nerve
The Irish Examiner shows sympathy for the protesters, but also voices reservations:
“Those taking to the streets, blocking roads, and disrupting critical infrastructure are not acting in a vacuum. Their grievances, whatever their precise form, resonate with a public that has grown weary of rising costs, uneven opportunities, and a sense that decision-makers are too often distant from the realities of everyday life. In that sense, the protestors are not without sympathy. Indeed, they enjoy a considerable degree of it. But sympathy is not unconditional. The right to protest is fundamental in a democratic society, yet it is neither absolute nor immune from consequence. When demonstrations cross certain lines, they risk undermining the very support that sustains them.”