The Irish Road Haulage Association President Ger Hyland has told Anton Savage that hauliers could take industrial action if Government does not redress fuel prices
Irish Road Haulage Association are threatening possible industrial action and disturbances to travel around the country if they don’t get Government action.
This reiterates threats the group had made two weeks ago in response to the growing strain fuel costs due to the US-Israel strikes on Iran.
The group is due to hold a meeting with the Department of Transport, Transport Ministers, and the government.
Mr Hyland told Newstalk Breakfast they would be entering the meeting with an open mind.
“We will listen to the proposals that the government put on the table for us, if any, and we will then make a decision immediately after that meeting as to what our next moves will be.
“Our members are absolutely up in arms at the present time. They cannot afford to buy fuel at today's cost.
“It's not going to be seen for another three or four weeks, but we're paying 43 cents a litre now, more than we were paying at the outset of this conflict in the Middle East.”
Mr Hyland said he had never seen such anger in the association before with members having “ire with everybody.”
He named the Government and the fuel companies as the big winners.
“We want to see what proposals the government would put on the table for us,” he told Newstalk.
“We need support for our organisation. How the government gets there, how to package that support, will be for the government to deal with it.
“We were talking yesterday that we need a minimum of 25 to 30 cents a litre of a break on fuel costs at the minute.”
Asked about the industrial action that could take place, he said: “What these people need to realise is we are not the enemy here.”
“We're the people who bring everything from the shoes on your feet to the bit that goes into your mouth and everything in between.
“If the cornflakes are not on your table, do not blame the hauliers because we just can't afford to put the fuel in our trucks at the present time.”
Main Image: Haulier Ger Hyland at his family-run business Hyland Transport in Co Laois.
