Fines issued after fuel protests across NI disrupt traffic

""Even the police are trying to get us away from a civil protest, it just goes to show you how much the country has flipped.""

— Dermot O'Donnell , Activist

""We are sick and tired of the cost of everything at the present time.""

— Stephen McKeown , Activist

""It's not just for the farmer, it's for the ordinary housewife going in and getting her shopping...""

— Sam Hanna , Activist

""Over half of what people pay at the pump is tax.""

— Michelle O'Neill , Politician

""People feel like they're pinned to their collars here with the rising fuel prices.""

— Liz Kimmins , Politician

""The right to freedom of speech and freedom of assembly are fundamental human rights which are protected in law...""

— Norman Haslett , Executive

"the lives of those seeking medical treatment could be put at risk"

— Mike Nesbitt , Politician

"This is extortionate what we’re getting charged in taxes throughout life – not just fuel, petrol, everything, we’re being extorted."

— Sam Hanna , Activist

"Technically, it’s not us that’s blocking the hard shoulder. We have kept the hard shoulder open."

— Sam Hanna , Activist

"The UK Government have to act and realistically what we’re doing here, they don’t care what we’re doing."

— Sam Hanna , Activist

"bring forward a package of support measures for people in the region."

— Michelle O’Neill , Politician

"I don’t think it’s in anybody’s interest to disrupt people getting about their business or to disrupt other businesses."

— Glyn Roberts , Executive

"Patients who have potentially waited for quite some time for an appointment could face delays or disruption."

— Dr Alan Stout , Academic

"Blocking roads is not the way forward."

— William Irvine , Executive

"It is essential that any support package brought forward by the British government reflects the realities faced by rural communities."

— Aine Murphy , Politician

"When people block roads for whatever purpose, it has a lot of unintended consequences."

— Jon Burrows , Politician

"This executive needs to stand up and deliver in terms of convening an emergency meeting to decide what we are going to do about the cost-of-living crisis."

— Jon Burrows , Politician