April 8, 2026: Protestors and supporters on O'Connell Street in Dublin.RollingNews.ie

Ireland's Defence Forces confirmed on Thursday morning that "assistance has been requested from An Garda Siochána in the form of heavy vehicle recovery."

The Defence Forces said it will not be providing further comment until the operation is concluded.

Addressing images circulating of MOWAG Armoured Personnel Carriers in convoy, the Defence Forces confirmed that "these are the personnel of the 128th Infantry Battalion conducting mission readiness exercises ahead of deployment to UNIFIL next month."

Ireland's Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan confirmed on Thursday that it is "well established in law that the Defence Forces may assist An Garda Síochána in aid to the civil power, when requested and when required."

The Department of Justice said: "The blocking of critical national infrastructure will not be permitted to continue and the assistance of the Defence Forces has been requested.

"Large vehicles blocking critical infrastructure will be removed. Owners of those vehicles should remove them immediately this morning and should not complain later about any damage caused to those vehicles during removal."

The Department added: "Denying people access to fuel and clean water is an unacceptable interference in the most basic of human rights."

"These are no longer protests, they are blockades."

Earlier on Thursday, Shawna Coxon, Deputy Commissioner of Policing Operations at An Garda Siochána, said: "Over the last two days, An Garda Síochána has engaged extensively with those taking part in fuel protests across the country to facilitate peaceful protest while protecting public safety.

"In line with our tradition of policing by consent, An Garda Síochána has been operating on the basis of the 4Es – Engage, Explain, Encourage, and Enforce.

"Yesterday, we advised protestors that they were severely impacting on the lives of people, particularly emergency workers, those who need to attend hospital, and workers.

"Despite our significant and prolonged engagement, which has included explaining and encouraging protestors to facilitate free movement of traffic, it is clear that some people have significantly escalated an already difficult situation by targeting critical infrastructure such as fuel depots and refineries.

"These are no longer protests, they are blockades.

"These blockades are putting at risk supplies of food, fuel, clean water and animal feed. These are critical for the nation and its people.

"This is not tolerable and is against the law.

"The wilful obstruction of public roads and the movement of vehicles and persons are offences under various statutes including the Public Order Act and Road Traffic Acts.

"As part of our well-established graduated policing response in dealing with protests, An Garda Síochána is now moving to an enforcement phase in relation to those impacting on critical infrastructure unless they desist and disperse from these blockades.

"An Garda Síochána is advising protestors to immediately cease blockades of such critical infrastructure or face the full rigours of the law."

Ireland's fuel protest

On Tuesday, demonstrators driving tractors, lorries, and trucks took to Ireland's roads to form slow-moving convoys in protest of the Government's response to rising fuel costs, which have soared due to the war in the Middle East and impacts on supplies out of the Strait of Hormuz.

In addition to major traffic disruptions, blockades have been taking place at fuel depots in Limerick and Galway. A blockade at Ireland’s only oil refinery at Whitegate in Co Cork was described as “an act of national sabotage" by Taoiseach Micheal Martin.

Speaking to the Press Association in Dublin City Centre on Wednesday evening, protest spokesman John Dallon said he hoped the dispute could be resolved through the Government committing to meeting him and two other participants.

“These people are not going to lie down," he said.

“The only way they will go off of the streets here is if we send a message back to them that we have a meeting, then there’s a good chance that people will go home.

“But, I mean, if there’s no satisfaction out of the meeting, I’d say it’ll all heat up again.”

Senior sources stated to The Journal on Thursday that panic buying has already begun, and knock-on effects will begin to be felt within 24 hours.

Health officials request approaches be kept clear

Elsewhere on Thursday, Ireland's Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD, and the CEO of the Health Service Executive (HSE), Anne O’Connor, have called for all approaches to medical facilities to be kept clear for emergency service access, for patients attending medical appointments and to ensure staff - including those who work in hospitals and those treating people in their homes or in community settings - can get to work and treat their patients.

"Attending hospital or receiving treatment in the community, whether in an emergency situation or for a routine appointment, is a vulnerable time for a patient and their family," MacNeill and O'Connor said in a joint statement.

"Please respect the critical need for clear and safe access to all healthcare services, to ensure that access to care is never compromised."

In a similar statement on Thursday, Children's Health Ireland said it is "asking those involved [in the protests] to make sure that all approaches to medical facilities are always kept clear.

"This is essential for emergency services, patients and families attending appointments, and healthcare staff working in our hospital sites.

"The protests have had an impact on services in CHI at Crumlin, Connolly, Tallaght, and Temple Street as they have delayed patients and families attending hospital appointments and have delayed healthcare staff getting to and from work, which impacts operational activity."

CHI said it is asking patients and families who have upcoming hospital appointments to allow extra time due to significant travel delays and plan an alternative route to avoid the affected areas of the city.

It is encouraging people who may not be able to attend their appointments due to the protests to reschedule.

Major traffic disruptions

Meanwhile, Transport Infrastructure Ireland warned of "significant" disruption impacting Cos Clare, Limerick, Tipperary, Laois, Offaly, Kildare, Galway, Cork, and Dublin on Thursday.

"TII’s network operations are working closely with the Garda Traffic Core to assist in managing the ongoing traffic distribution," TII said.

"TII requests that all road users leave the hard shoulder available for emergency services. The protest is mobile at times and can impact different regions at different times."

TII is providing live traffic updates on its social media and website.