One of the prominent leaders of the April fuel protests has sharply criticised Taoiseach Micheál Martin for “evading” farmers at the weekend. Westmeath agricultural contractor James Geoghegan, who emerged as a leading spokesperson for the fuel protestors, said that the Fianna Fáil leader evaded his questions at the Tullamore Show last Sunday.
Geohegan, a key figure in the national fuel blockades, told Gript that Mr Martin walked past him, refused to stop, and did not answer his question while flanked by Gardaí.
The Tyrrellspass man said that an unusually large Garda operation protected the Taoiseach, claiming dozens of Gardaí were involved in steering Mr Martin away from members of the public who wished to engage.
It comes as leaders of the protests which brought the country to a standstill in April threaten renewed action.
The Government is said to be under increasing pressure not to reverse recent fuel duty cuts, which shaved 32c off a litre of diesel and 27c off petrol.
They came about after mass protests by farmers and hauliers brought the capital to a standstill and caused mass traffic chaos nationwide.
Also present at the agricultural show in County Offaly were fellow fuel protestors Christopher Duffy and John Dallon. Mr Dallon also hit out at the Taoiseach, saying that his attempts to ask questions were also blocked by Gardaí.
“I came out here today to meet all the people who supported us during the fuel protests. We also came down here thinking that we might get a chance to ask Mr Martin a few questions, along with Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon,” said the Kildare farmer.
“But unfortunately, as usual, the Gardai stepped in,” Mr Dallon told SND media. “They stopped us – they blocked us. We weren’t going to be allowed out on the floor to ask questions. That’s the way it is – every direction we go looking for answers, we have been blocked.
“It’s totally unacceptable to see the arrogance this Government has. It looks like the Irish people will have no alternative but to get back out protesting. The Government is increasing the cost of diesel, as well as the carbon tax. We are coming into the winter months and people are running into financial difficulty. We can’t keep taking this from the Government. We must all get back out onto the roads. We’ll lead the way, but people need to stop allowing this Government to tax this country to the hilt.”
Christopher Duffy, a contractor from Castletown, Co. Meath was also seen approaching Mr Martin to ask about fuel price increases. He was quickly surrounded by Gardaí; Mr Duffy says one officer grabbed his arm and briefly detained him.
He has stated that he simply wanted to question an elected representative and noted there were no signs prohibiting questions.
“What happened at the Tullamore show was unacceptable. Our motto during the blockades was ‘we can’t afford to move.’ Well, we’re getting to that point again,” Mr Geoghegan told Gript on Tuesday, joining calls for action to be reinstated.
It comes as fuel prices have begun to rise sharply again, with excise cuts set to be phased out to pre reduction levels. The temporary reductions introduced by the Government are due to expire on 31 August, with a full restoration to take effect between September and December.
The most recent price monitor from the AA shows that both petrol and diesel prices have shot up by an average of 19 cent a litre during the month of July. This means motorists filling up a 50-litre tank of fuel are paying €9.50 extra for a tank of diesel, and €4.50 more for a tank of petrol.
AA Ireland said it was a “significant” month-on-month increase. It comes after temporary excise duty reductions of 27 cents per litre on petrol and 32 cents on diesel as part of a €505 million Government package, were extended until the end of August. The cost of diesel rose 11 per cent to an average of €1.92 litre in August, with petrol prices increasing by 5 cent to an average of €1.84 per litre.
‘A THREE CARD TRICK’
Mr Geohegan said the cuts brought in by the Government, which are now being phased out, were “a three card trick,” adding: “We were fooled.”
The rural campaigner told Gript of his interaction with Mr Martin on Sunday.
“I met Micheál Martin face on, and I asked him, ‘Micheál, what are you going to do about the price of fuel?’ He just danced out to the side of me and walked away.
“He refused to stop and talk to me. He refused, as the leader of this country, to answer my question. Why on earth did he bother showing up?”
“He should have faced me on Sunday. The fact he didn’t tells you everything. I wasn’t going to attack him. I wasn’t going to bite him.”
On the prospect of blockading the roads again, Mr Geohegan explained: “If we back down now, the Irish Government will raise the cost of fuel and we’ve lost. It’s over. We can’t let people down. We can’t give up now.”
“I’ll tell you what’s incredible: the amount of people messaging us, the fuel protest leaders and those involved in the campaign. “When are we going?” And it seems like there’s ten times more who want to go this time than the last time.”
He said that regards to the cost of living crisis, “It’s not just fuel anymore – it’s a full-blown cost of living crisis. The people on the ground are hurting and they want something done. I had so many moving moments at the protests over Easter, where people were coming up to me.
“One lady said it was the first time in years that she could see some hope as a single mother living in North inner city Dublin. Hope that something would change from what we had done.”
“I had people come up and tell me that the protestors had done something special and had given them hope.”
Mr Geoghegan feels there is a disconnect between protest leaders and representative organisations engaging with the government, such as the Irish Farmers Association (IFA).
‘WHY SHOULD ANY BUSINESS BE HIT WITH A €20,000 A YEAR CARBON TAX BILL?”
“We are very disappointed at the minute that are not actually looking for the money the Government promised to give back. The other problem we have, with the IFA for example, is that they are not looking for an abolition of the carbon tax when we believe that they should be.
The protest leader said organisations including the IFA should be more aware of carbon tax on agriculture being a live issue for farming organisations.
“The IFA are not looking for the carbon tax to be abolished – they’re looking for it to be ring-fenced for agricultural schemes. This was in their budget submission to the Government around two months ago. But carbon tax should not be on agricultural diesel, end of. The carbon tax is a pay cut to farmers.
“Why should my business be hit with a €20,000-a-year carbon tax cost? Carbon tax costs me €20,000 a year at present. The government keeps pulling money out of farmers’ pockets, whether they make money or not. I barely know of a farmer in this country who is making money at the minute.”
“How are we supposed to sustain that type of expense?”
“The impending increase in the cost of fuel and related policies pursued by this Government are harming ordinary people in rural Ireland. Real engagement is needed to help the squeezed farmers, ordinary families, and contractors.”
“If excise increases are not stopped, people will take to the streets again.”
Micheál Martin’s Office were contacted for comment, but a response had not been received at the time of the publication of this article.