Supporters and suppliers of the Quinn Group held a demonstration in Dublin today, driving dozens of trucks from Kildare into the city centre and onto the M50 motorway.
A convoy of about 200 trucks took part in the demonstration, organised by businesses concerned about the possible effects of the decision to place Quinn Insurance into permanent administration. It took off from a truck stop on the M7 near Naas, Co Kildare this morning.
About 50 trucks travelled to the city centre and drove a loop of the north and south quays. Another 150 trucks drove from the Red Cow interchange onto the M50 northbound to the M1 intersection, where they looped around to the southbound carriageway.
Members of the convoy, made up of representatives of about 170 firms,
handed a letter into the Taoiseach’s office expressing their dismay at the Government‘s handling of the case.
A little before 10.55am, the first of the trucks hit Bachelors Walk, horns blaring. There were several dozen vehicles in total, from container trucks to cement mixers and tow trucks.
It was hard to know whether all the trucks travelling down the quays were, in fact, part of the protest but the company names on some of them included Surefreight, Liam Kelly Haulage, Montgomery Transport and Harrington Concrete. Some trucks featured posters supporting the Quinn Group.
The first wave of protesting drivers took no more than 10 minutes to complete the loop of the quays, coming back down Aston Quay at 11.10am.
They appeared to come in waves of five or six, in a staggered fashion. There was little traffic disruption and cars and buses moved freely alongside the protesting truck drivers.
Gardaí were on duty at major junctions such as O'Connell Bridge and at Matt Talbot Bridge.
A spokeswoman for the Quinn Group employees claimed Quinn Insurance and its workers had been treated disgracefully over the last four weeks. “The Government needs to realise the far-reaching impact the Financial Regulator’s decision will have,” she said.
“There are businesses all over the country who rely on the Quinn Group in order to maintain trading, particularly during the toughest financial climate of our lifetimes.”
The group also wants regulator Matthew Elderfield to reopen more of Quinn Insurance’s UK business.
While Mr Elderfield has given the go-ahead for some work to resume in the division, administrators have warned of staff cuts as a result of ongoing restrictions.
“The current ban on NI/UK business means that Quinn Insurance is not allowed to renew the policies of long standing, loyal and commercially sound customers,” the spokeswoman said.
“If we cannot renew with Quinn Insurance we must go back into the market and approach a new insurance firm with whom we have no previous relationship or experience.”