'Has to stop' - Kilkenny FF councillor criticises Micheal Martin as fuel protests rage

Local Fianna Fáil councillor, Michael Delaney has criticised his party leader, Micheal Martin, for the manner in which he addressed fuel protests during a public address on Wednesday.

Mr Martin described the blockade of an Irish oil refinery as "an act of national sabotage," stating, "the decision of some protesters to block access to the Whitegate oil refinery in County Cork was an outrage."

Since then, some heavy vehicles have blocked fuel depots, leaving many people without access to fuel.

The Tullaroan native also took aim at the government's decision to deploy members of the army where protestors are obstructing access to fuel.

READ NEXT: 'Outrageous' - deployment of Irish army criticised as Kilkenny endures fuel protests

"I don't know why Micheal Martin came out and spoke the way he spoke against the Irish people. I know, to give him some credit, I suppose the system and the bureaucracy are built to talk to the organisations like the IFAs and all these different leader bodies, but at the end of the day, the people are the ones that put the government up there to represent them," Cllr Delaney told Kilkenny Live.

"I don't think he should have spoken to the people like that, I don't know what the reason was behind it, because at the end of the day, they're normal people, they're everyday people. The frustration is everywhere," he added.

Mr Delaney is a well-known publican, shop owner and farmer in North Kilkenny, with the price hikes impacting his personal life as well as his political.

"It is making life very challenging, like, I filled a diesel tank for the shop and the pub, and it's after doubling," he revealed.

"The way I look at it now is I'm only a revenue collector for the government to keep the government going so I can provide for the community here in Tullaroan and I'm only one man," he continued, adding, "someone is going to have to stand up and say 'this has to stop we need to look at this seriously'."

Asked about the deployment of soldiers to certain areas, Cllr Delaney replied: "I think that's really undermining the Irish people.

"To do what like? To keep streets open? What's the army going to do?" he questioned.

"If we want a job for the army, they should go out and clean the streets and make themselves useful for the country instead of going in and causing more chaos.

"I believe the army should be out there protecting the people of the country and not putting petrol on the fire," he added.

READ MORE: Queues forming at fuel stations in Kilkenny amid ongoing disruption