Protesters have been cleared from Dublin's O'Connell Street and the majority of vehicles blockading the city’s main thoroughfare have left the street following a major garda operation overnight.
O’Connell Street is locked down and is expected to remain so for a number of hours until all parked vehicles are removed.
Shortly after 3.30am, O’Connell Street and the roads around it were sealed off by teams of uniformed gardaí and the Garda Public Order unit moved in in large numbers.
They directed protesters and members of the public to leave, and all those there did so peacefully.
A number of truck and tractors left the area before the operation began, while several others later returned to their vehicles and then drove away under garda escort.
A number of tractors and trucks are still parked on O’Connell Street but gardaí have the co-operation of most of their owners to move them in the coming hours.
Gardaí say they do not think they will need the Defence Forces to assist with their removal.
Watch: Tractors and trucks leave Dublin's O'Connell Street
Superintendent Jarlath Lennon of Store Street said 200 gardaí from his station backed up by the Mounted Unit, the water unit, the garda helicopter and plain clothes detectives assisted with the operation which he described as successful.
O’Connell Street remains sealed off to the public with the ring of steel around it but it is expected to be gradually reopened in the coming hours.
Elsewhere in Dublin, gardaí also cleared the blockade of the M50 northbound.
Watch: Gardaí begin operation at O'Connell Street protest
Meanwhile, the blockade at Galway Port, which began on Tuesday, has ended.
The demonstrators formed a barricade on the bridge leading to the port terminal this morning.
Last night, the Jack Lynch Tunnel in Co Cork was partially blocked by fuel protesters.
The tunnel is now fully reopened after around ten tractors stopped inside the northbound bore, reducing it to one lane.
It comes ahead of a Cabinet meeting this evening to discuss supports for hauliers, farmers and the fishing sector.
Cabinet meetings on Sundays are rare and almost always happen at a time of crisis.
The Government seeks to take the temperature down a good few notches after days of protests that reached far into the workings of the economy.
Direct support for hauliers along the lines of what was in place during Covid-19 pandemic could be signed off by Cabinet this evening.
An extension of the diesel rebate scheme beyond June is also seen as likely.
There are expected to be measures for farmers and the fishing sector too, particularly in the area of credit lines and cash flow.
On the question of further cuts to excise duty on fuel and oil, the Government remains in contact with the European Commission to see if there is the flexibility to do this.
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