LIVE UPDATES: Government package worth over €500m, Sinn Féin to table no confidence vote

16:00: Rows of tankers are gaining access to the Whitegate oil refinery in Cork, following the blockade being lifted.

This morning, the tankers were being escorted to the facility by Gardai, but now they are making their own way.

15:20: Independent TD Danny Healy-Rae has told RTÉ News that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael should change their leaders.

He said: "There was inaction for too long. I don't blame the protesters. No one was listening to them."

Healy-Rae also said that he would decide tomorrow whether or not he will back the vote of no confidence tabled by Sinn Féin.

14:00: MEP Ciaran Mullooly has called out the Government's reaction to the crisis, saying they "have not acted to the scale required."

Mullooly, who has also a member of Independent Ireland, said: "For many families in rural Ireland, kerosene is essential. The main new measure here is the deferral of a carbon tax increase. That does not reduce current costs - it simply delays a further increase. For households already under pressure, that is not enough."

13:30: CEO of business group Dublin Town has called for future demonstrations to be held in a specific location following major disruption to O'Connell Street.

Richard Guiney said that recent events had 'paralysed' the City Centre, insisting future protests need to be held away from O'Connell Street.

He said: "While totally accepting the need and right to protest in the capital city, disrupting public transport and bringing its major throughfare to a halt for a protracted period of time is simply wrong.

“Business was impacted, public transport was disrupted and hospital appointments were missed. In other parts of the county, protesters minimised such disruption, but not in Dublin.

“Recent changes to traffic routes ensured that the closure of O’Connell Street effectively paralysed College Green, Henry Street, Middle Abbey Street and a huge area of the City centre.

“Three quarters of its customer base uses public transport to access the City centre, and O’Connell street feeds people to all kinds of businesses and public facilities.

“The protest led to a decline in footfall in the City centre during the Easter school holidays as well as disrupting medical schedules in nearby hospitals and severely discommoding many commuters, shoppers and tourists.

“O’Connell Street must not again be closed off in this fashion.”

12:40: Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly sends a thank you to all Garda personnel, thanking them for their hard work over the last week.

His thanks were conveyed in a letter from the Garda Press Office to all members of An Garda Síochána, outlining a difficult period for them.

He said: "Since the start of the fuel protests you have been working hard to deal with many challenging policing situations all across the country.

"You have done this with great professionalism and dedication and I wish to thank you all sincerely for this. I completely understand the really difficult situations many of you have been faced with.

"Thanks to your efforts we have broken the illegal blockades which were interfering with access to our critical national infrastructure. This has meant that our emergency services, hospital and fuel supply network were able to continue to operate.

"I also want to thank you for responding to our calls for additional personnel needed to deal with this situation.

"Again, I appreciate many of you made personal sacrifices to answer this call to duty. Your Representative Associations are to be complimented for the level of co-operation that they have provided during this unprecedented period.

"I am concerned to hear about attempts in person and online to threaten and intimidate Gardaí who are engaged in their lawful work. I have viewed some of this online material myself and have been absolutely appalled by it.

"This will not be tolerated and will be fully investigated with the aim of bringing those involved to justice.

"Finally, both the Minister for Justice and An Taoiseach have asked that I convey their gratitude to you for all your work in the past week.

"Thank you.

"Commissioner Justin Kelly"

11:45: Protests continue in parts of the country, with significant disruptions in Cavan and Monaghan.

Cavan/Monaghan Gardai issued the following advice for commuters: "Cavan Gardai wish to advise commuters that planned protests and a blockade on the Dublin Rd roundabout will continue tomorrow from 4.30am."

These blockades come as children return to school after the break, but protesters have said they are allowing school buses through,

There have also been rolling protests reported along the N2 between Monaghan and Castleblayney.

10:20: Independent TD Carol Nolan has said she will be voting no confidence in the Government this week.

Nolan said the Government are "out of touch, out of time and out of confidence."

She said: "Something has finally snapped among the ordinary people of Ireland. The people that get up early, work every hour god gives them, get next to nothing in return except ever-tightening margins and a taxation regime that treats them like cash-cows rather than people just trying to earn a living."

10:00: Northern Irish farmers to meet MP's over rising fuel and fertiliser costs.

The Ulster Farmers' Union has begun a series of meetings at Stormont today, discussing what can be done as pressures mount on farm businesses.

UFU President said: "Farmers are facing a perfect storm of rising input costs, ongoing policy presssures and adverse weather conditions."

9:30: Transport Infrastructure Ireland urges protesters to keep the hard shoulders on motorways open and clear for emergency services.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, TII's Communications Director Sean O'Neill said: "It's for emergency vehilces and emergency trips, whatever your actions are on the motorway network, please keep these open."

8.30am: Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins criticises Government support package.

He said he suppported protests that were peaceful, and that their purpose was to "make the Government wake up".

Collins said: "As long as people are protesting peacefully, I will support them."

16:30: Huge tailbacks on the M1 with fuel protesters closing the motorway near Dundalk.

Many tractors, lorries and other vehicles are being used to block both sides of the northbound carriageway.

15:00: Protesters have engaged in a standoff with An Garda Síochána's public order unit at the oil refinery in Whitegate.

This is due to Gardai trying to escort a fuel tanker towards the refinery but protesters are not allowing it.

14:35: Four protesters, including one of the leaders of the campaign John Dallon, have been refused entry to a meeting between Government and representatives.

Mr Dallon said that they were told by TD's that the could attend the meeting, but their names were not on the list when they arrived.

14:30: Aer Lingus takes to Instagram to warn customers about delays in getting to the airport and to allow further time.

14:12: A security operation is in place near Leinster House and Kildare Street, in response to a possible protest.

A meeting is planned and is due to take place on Kildare Street between industry representatives and Government.

13:53: Taoiseach has said the Blockade has to end.

Speaking on RTE Radio One this afternoon, the Taoiseach has called for an end to the blockades on ports, calling the current situation "unconciousable".

He added: "It makes no sense and Government will, through An Garda Síochána, make sure access is there."

13:40: Five fuel trucks allowed through blockade at Foynes.

Protesters at the fuel depot at Port of Foynes have allowed five trucks through, which are the first to leave the depot in four days.

12:50: DPD suspends their delivery services tomorrow, as part of delays experienced by the protest.

12:18: Taoiseach's trade visit to Canada on Sunday has been postponed, with no reason given.

The Taoiseach had been scheduled to travel with five other Government ministers for a three day mission to promote the country.

11:30: M50 remains heavily disrupted, with multiple lane closures along the country's busiest road.

This comes as people were seen making their way towards the airport on foot yesterday.

11:07am: Peter Burke urges protesters to end the blockades and argues that the Government is working day and night on fuel supports.

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke said: "People have a right to protest, and I understand the genuine frustration around rising fuel costs.

"But what we are seeing now has gone beyond protest, and I understand the genuine frustration around rising fuel costs."

11:00am: Massive Garda presence at the Whitehall refinery in Cork, with Gardai blocking off the main road towards the protesters.

Multiple Garda vehicles have arrived at the facility.

09.20am: Protestors who gathered in Monaghan yesterday evening have blocked the Dublin Road roundabout.

9:00am: Protesters block the N4 just outside Mullingar, with a large convoy moving slowly along the road.

Hard shoulder has been left clear to allow emergency vehicles access, as this is an important route towards Midlands Regional Hospital Mullingar.

08:35am: We're heading into the fourth day of protests and discontent is spreading right throughout the country.

Protestors gearing up in Cavan Town

16:35: Taoiseach has called for the blockades to be stood down, wanting to protect peoples rights and keep the economy going.

Speaking at the opening of Campas Íosagáin in County Cork, he said: "My fundamental message is to those who are preventing people from accessing work or getting about the place.

"We have no issue with protest. People are entitled to protest, but this has gone beyond legitimate protest, when you start blocking access to ports and oil refineries."

15:20: M50 is now at gridlock, with the road almost completley blocked off, some people have even began walking with luggage along the side of the motorway.

This gridlock is between the N2 and N3 Northbound and has tailbacks of nearly 10km, there is no access to M50 Northbound from N3.

15:00: Fuels for Ireland say some forecourts are now running out of fuel as a direct result of the blockades.

Kevin McPartland of Fuels for Ireland said: "The position is straightforward. If access to fuel terminals and refineries is obstructed, fuel cannot be loaded and delivered as normal.

"If fuel cannot be delivered as normal, stock levels at forecourts cannot be maintained. What we are now seeing at some sites is the inevitable consequence of those blockades."

14:45: Huge delays on M50 Northbound as just one lane is opened, with some hauliers stopping their vehicles in the road.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland is appealing for people to avoid the motorway, with the motorway now effectively closed.

14:00: Irish Road Haulage Association continuing to work with the Government and will not be engaging in protests.

In a statement, they said: "We reiterate that we will not be taking part in any protest actions whilst we are negotiating in good faith with the Government.

"The Irish Road Haulage Association believes that the best way to resolve this issue is through dialogue and we will contine ongoing discussions with the government to bring about further supports for our members."

12:55pm: Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has urged Government to "pick up the phone" to protesters.

Speaking at a neutrality policy launch, she said: "The ball is now in the court of Government.

"Rather than escalating the situation, they need to lift the phone, they need to engage with the protesters, and to hear what they say.

"My understanding is that Government reaching out and communicating with the farmers, hauliers and the agricultural contractors means that the protest ends."

12:05pm: HSE CEO Anne O'Connor and Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill are calling for all approaches to medical facilities to be kept clear.

This is so that patients attending appointments and emergency services both have access, amid the protests.

11:50am: Luas Green Line services not operating from St Stephen's Green and Dominick.

In a statement on their website, Luas Customer Service said: "Passengers, please be advised Green Line services are currently not operating between St. Stephen's Green and Dominick. Services are operating between Broombridge and Dominick and between St. Stephen's Green and Brides Glen only. This is due to a protest at O'Connell Bridge. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

"All Red Line services are operating normally."

11:33am: Dublin Bus providing travel updates regularly on their X account.

11:14am: M50 Dublin providing an update on their X account.

10:46: Defence Forces say images that show armoured vehicles are just conducting exercises ahead of a deployment.

10:43: Gardai say ongoing protests at fuel depots and refineries no loner 'tolerable' and shift to enforcement stage

An Garda Síochána have issued a statement regarding the protests. Deputy Commissioner, Policing Operations, Shawna Coxon 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.

"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."

10:08: O'Rourke blasts Government plans to deploy army

Sinn Féin TD for Meath East, Darren O'Rourke, has called out the decision by the Government to seek assistance from the Defence Forces to remove fuel protesters.

He said: "This is a dangerous and heavy handed approach. People are protesting because they simply cannot afford to fuel their cars, heat their homes or run their businesses. The answer is not military action, its political action."

9:30am: Peadar Tóibín urges the Government to deescalate and talk to the fuel price protesters

Aontú leader and Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín has called on the Government to deescalate, he said: "It is madness for the government to call in the army before trying every peacful avenue

9:00am: Spirits remain high in Galway Docks this morning as fuel protests enter their third day.

Pizzas, water bottles and turf for their fire were among the gifts protesters received overnight.

The protest looks set to continue despite concerns this morning that the army will be called in to intervene.

The bridge at the docks remains open to everyone bar oil tankers.

Video: Patrick Flaherty