Statement by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O'Callaghan

Over the past four days An Garda Síochána has engaged extensively with protestors seeking to allow access to critical sites and ensure certain trucks containing fuel, medicine and animal feed were allowed pass through blockades.

Despite the increasingly difficult situation facing people across the country and requests from Government to end the blocking of critical infrastructure, the blockades continued.

This is unacceptable.

While we all acknowledge the impact of higher fuel prices, and seek to minimise that impact, no groups are entitled in our Republic to hold our people to ransom in such a manner.

An Garda Síochána has commenced operations to allow critical infrastructure to operate so people have access to fuel.

I will continue to engage with the Garda Commissioner and my colleagues in Government as these operations continue.

I want to thank the Gardai and their colleagues from the Defence Forces for carrying out these difficult duties in such a professional manner.

ENDS…///