Government showing “let them eat cake” attitude towards fuel protesters, says O’Callaghan

The response of the government to the fuel protestors has been “disdainful and dismissive,” according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan.

The Soc Dems deputy leader said, “I am very concerned that we are now four days into these protests and the government has failed to meaningfully engage with protestors.”

“Instead, the Taoiseach and a succession of senior ministers have made patronising, disdainful and dismissive interventions that have aggravated a serious situation,” the Dublin Bay North TD said.

“Yesterday’s incendiary announcement that the Defence Forces would be brought in, to clear protests, was made before anyone in government had even picked up the phone to a protestor. Instead of de-escalating the situation, it inflamed it,” he said.

“The government’s handling of this has been cack-handed from the start because they doubled down on an unsustainable position – no talks with the protestors. At present, it is not clear whether or not they will even speak with protest representatives this afternoon.”

O’Callaghan said, “these talks need to happen – as quickly as possible – so this deteriorating situation, which is having hugely negative impacts all over the country, can be resolved.”

The Soc Dems TD said, “I do not agree with the blockading of critical infrastructure or causing massive disruption to people as they go about their daily lives. But, I am also conscious that many of these protestors are desperate and at the end of their tether. They can see their livelihoods slipping away – not in a matter of months, but in a matter of days or weeks.”

“We are experiencing an unprecedented price shock, in the cost of fuel, and the support measures announced by the government last month were wholly inadequate. There has to be an acknowledgement of that by the government and additional support measures announced.”

O’Callaghan has reiterated his calls for the government to introduce a targeted €400 energy credit, with the party looking to introduce a bill to the Dáil next week.

The party will also call for a supplementary mileage allowance for frontline workers; an expanded and increased rebate scheme for the transport and agricultural sectors, and “hugely increased” grants for solar panel installation.

“The government’s ‘let them eat cake’ attitude, to protestors, is going to extend these protests, not resolve them. We need to see an immediate change in approach from the government to people who are really suffering as a result of this crisis,” O’Callaghan remarked.