Fuel trucks have regained access to an oil refinery in the Republic of Ireland that had been subjected to a days-long blockade.
Earlier on Saturday, protesters at Whitegate Refinery in County Cork were pushed back by gardaí (Irish police) using pepper spray, in an operation supported by the Irish Defence Forces.
Gardaí were brought in to move large tractors that had been blocking the entrance and fuel tankers were once again able to access the site.
Hundreds of petrol stations in the country have run out of fuel as the protests – involving slow-moving convoys made up of vehicles including tractors – continue for a fifth day.
Blockades at fuel depots in counties Limerick and Galway are continuing.
Footage posted by gardaí on Saturday afternoon showed them escorting oil tankers leaving Whitegate after they restored access to the refinery.
Meetings between government ministers and representatives of farmers and hauliers to finalise a new government funding package took place on Saturday.
The package will include a temporary fuel support scheme aimed at the haulage, agri-business and contractor sectors.
On Saturday evening Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said a number of arrests were made during the operation at Whitegate.
He added that blockades are illegal and “not a legitimate form of protest”.
“We gave these blockaders fair warning that we were moving to an enforcement phase and they chose to ignore that and continue to hold the country to ransom.”
Kelly also said gardaí are aware that there has been intimidation of fuel tanker drivers.
“Offences such as threats to kill or cause serious harm carry sentences of up to 10 years,” he said.
“My message is clear – blockaders must immediately cease blockades of critical infrastructure and road networks or face the full rigours of the law.”
