Organiser of major fuel price protest in Longford says home heating oil is the 'big one’

An Edgeworthstown-based man, who organised a walking protest march in the county town earlier this week, has stressed that Government supports do not go far enough.

Sinn Féin activist, James Donnelly, organised the protest attended by hundreds of people in response to the rising fuel costs which began in the Market Square.

Mr Donnelly, an unsuccessful local election candidate in 2024, said he believes the Government measures did not go far enough and he referred to the 10c reduction per litre in both diesel and petrol.

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"The 10 cents could potentially be evaporated within a day or two with the way prices are going up again already.

"It doesn't go far enough and I think the majority of the people I spoke to and in the country seem to agree."

Mr Donnelly said any of the farmers who spoke to him last Sunday in Longford at the protest 'weren't happy' with the Government response.

"I've received a few messages since the announcement of the package of measures on Sunday night and there's people out protesting today [Monday], a lot of them farmers, so they're obviously not happy with it."

Mr Donnelly said Sinn Féin's Sorca Clarke and the party called for the Dáil to be recalled two weeks ago at the start of the Easter holidays.

"The party and others were not listened to and the Government sat on their laurels for two weeks."

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Mr Donnelly, who was asked by the Longford Leader if there was one measure he would introduce, responded quickly.
"Sinn Féin want to see 25 cent immediately off the price of diesel and petrol at the pump.

"And we want the complete removal of excise, including the carbon component on home heating oil, which bear in mind, as you know wasn't touched in this package of measures."

Mr Donnelly said in terms of issues relating to the fuel crisis home heating oil is ‘the big one’ for him.

​“So many people rely on kerosene, whether its to get a few drums like I would at the garage or to get a fill of a tank off one of the companies.

"And I've spoke to countless families over the last three or four weeks who have gone without heating, you know, whether they have a fireplace or not.

"They've gone without the home heating oil because they simply can't even afford to bring two 20 litre drums down to the garage anymore."

"So home heating oil needs to be brought down.

"And we've called for the maximum cut to excise on green diesel as well."

Mr Donnelly said he spoke with farmers and hauliers on Sunday at the protest who were very concerned as he spoke further about the supports for farmers.

"It is not going anywhere near what they need."

Mr Donnelly said there was a farmer speaking at the protest in Longford on Sunday who was 'nearly in tears because he was just so stressed on how we can keep going and this was an elderly farmer as well'.

Mr Donnelly said several farmers told him it had not been easy before the fuel crisis and “they reckon the Government don't seem to grasp how hard it has got for them”.