Travellers told to allow more time for journeys as Irish fuel protests continue

Travel across parts of the Republic of Ireland has been affected for the fourth day in a row as vehicles block roads during protests.

Slow-moving convoys have been protesting against high fuel prices caused by the US and Israeli war against Iran.

Gardaí (Irish police) said on Friday that they "continue to engage extensively with those taking part in fuel protests across the country".

As well as blocking roads, protesters are in place at fuel terminals in Foynes in County Limerick, as well as at Galway Port and a blockade continues at the Whitegate Oil Refinery in east Cork.

Irish Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon and Minister of State Timmy Dooley will meet representative bodies on Friday.

On Friday Dooley told Irish broadcaster RTÉ it was his understanding that invitations had been extended to representative bodies but that who they bring along was for them to decide.

The Irish Minister for Justice, Jim O'Callaghan, said there would be "legal consequences" for some protests.

"It might not arise today or tomorrow but people have licences to drive vehicles, those licences will be affected."

In a statement on Thursday, a gardaí spokesperson said the force was "moving to an enforcement phase" unless those blocking access to critical infrastructure "desist and disperse".

They said blockades were putting food, fuel, clean water and animal feed supplies at risk.

Fuels for Ireland said that 100 garage forecourts have run out of fuel, mainly in Munster and the west of Ireland.

Its chief executive, Kevin McPartlin, told RTÉ that the number could be five times that by Friday night, adding that 50% of the country's new supply was being kept behind barricade lines.

In a social media post on Friday morning, Dublin Airport advised passengers travelling to and from the airport "to allow extra time for their journey due to protest activity".

The Irish Health Service Executive called for all approaches to medical facilities to be kept clear for users to access treatment.

On Thursday, Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micheál Martin told RTÉ that the blocking of roads and infrastructure was "not a fair form of protest".

Irish Defence Minister Helen McEntee claimed the actions of some protesters was "now crossing into criminal behaviour".

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald called for the taoiseach (Irish prime minister) and tánaiste (deputy PM) to "pick up the phone" to protesters.

Mark Maguire, a farmer from the Monaghan-Fermanagh border who has been part of the protests, told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme that fuel costs are unsustainable for his sector.

"There's not one farmer in Ireland or Northern Ireland that wants to be out protesting. They have enough to do."

Maguire added that he wants the Irish government to stop taxing fuel.

Deputy Vice President of the Irish Road Haulage Association Eugene Drennan said what he described as "green" policies introduced by the Irish government in recent years had been "too big" and "too quick".

Drennan said his association would not be accompanied by protesters during their meeting with the government on Friday.

He added that, while his organisation is not calling for protests to end, they would like to see an end to blockades as they are "hurting people".

Why are the protests taking place?

The conflict in the Middle East has caused rapid price rises for both petrol and diesel.

Diesel in the Republic of Ireland has risen from about €1.70 (£1.48) a litre to €2.17 (£1.89) on many forecourts in recent weeks and petrol is now up to 25 cents more per litre at many pumps, RTÉ reports.