New Fuel Blockade Planned Amid Disagreement Over Government Tax Vote

A new fuel blockade is being planned in Ireland, with organizers of April’s protests, including spokesperson James Geoghegan, seeking support. This action protests the planned end of fuel subsidies in August, which would see tax rates return to normal. The previous protests in April were sparked by rising fuel prices due to US attacks on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz shutdown.

Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty and Geoghegan claim the government voted on June 17 to increase fuel prices by 32c per litre for diesel and 27c for petrol from August 1, and to raise carbon taxes from October. However, the government states it voted against extending temporary fuel subsidies, not to introduce new taxes. The Dáil passed the Finance Bill 2026, which confirmed existing tax cuts and postponed carbon tax increases, but rejected amendments proposed by Doherty that would have extended excise duty cuts and halted future carbon tax hikes.

Simon Harris, Tánaiste, clarified on June 25 that the government is discussing a gradual reduction of tax cuts to avoid a sudden impact. He also disputed Doherty’s 32c figure for diesel. Geoghegan’s claim that April’s protests ended due to government “help” is contradicted by the government, which stated its €755 million relief package, announced on April 12 after six days of protests, was a response to international oil prices, not political pressure. The government also noted it was in talks with representative bodies who did not support the blockades before they began.