The health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has raised fears chemotherapy or other urgent care could be affected if “anarchic” fuel protests continue, although she said ambulances have now been refuelled. Ms Carroll MacNeill was speaking during the Irish Medical Organisation annual conference in Killarney. “So I would ask everybody to please step down from this.”The Irish Medical Organisation also raised concerns about patient risks. In response, Ms Carroll MacNeill told the Irish Examiner: “I think this is a different sort of threat. She pointed to Ireland’s “vibrant democracy, very strong civil society groups” and said the Government regularly engages with recognised unions such as the Irish Medical Organisation or the Irish Farmers Association.

Source: Irish Examiner April 11, 2026 14:23 UTC