A local councillor has expressed his concern over ongoing protests in Monaghan.
Alan Johnston has said the ongoing road blockades are causing significant disruption and should be brought to an immediate end.
Monaghan town bypass is blocked both ways due to protestors blocking the road, with all entrances at Grahams Roundabout also shut.
According to the Fine Gael representative, the disruption in Monaghan is causing widespread delays and access issues across the region.
Speaking to Northern Sound, Cllr Johnston said while the vast majority of people, including himself, agree that cost pressures are affecting certain sectors, unauthorised illegal blockage of national roads and critical infrastructure is not the way forward.
Cllr Johnston will put forward a motion at Monday's sitting of Monaghan County Council which will call for additional Government support.
Cllr Johnston has urged those involved to reopen the roads and open dialogue to move forward forward: "People are being blocked from getting to critical hospital appointments, travel for dialysis, cancer treatments, surgeries. Workers are being blocked from getting to work. Commuters & businesses travelling from the north west through Monaghan are being blocked.
"Most critically, emergency services response times are being negatively impacted. Food and fuel deliveries are being impacted. Local tradesmen and drivers are severely impacted. This is a community safety issue. The unauthorised blocking of a national road should not be tolerated.
"Demonstrators nationally have repeatedly said that blockades would be lifted if Government leaders agreed to meet with them to discuss their demands. The Government gave this commitment yesterday with a meeting being held today. I asked the protestors this morning & I ask anyone involved in the protest again to stop and open up the roads. Dialogue and resolution is the appropriate way forward."
