Following mass citizen protests over high fuel prices, the Irish government decided to cut excise duties and to postpone the introduction of the ecological tax.

The decision came after thousands of Irish citizens took to the streets of Dublin and other cities, demanding urgent measures to reduce prices that had risen significantly after the American blockade of Iranian ports.

The Irish government announced a package of measures that includes a temporary reduction of fuel excise duties, postponement of the planned ecological tax, as well as subsidies for the most affected households.

The protests in Ireland are part of a broader wave of discontent across Europe triggered by rising energy prices, which are directly linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Analysts warn that if the blockade continues, fuel prices across the entire EU could rise further, putting governments before a difficult choice between fiscal responsibility and social peace.