The fuel protests show that a certain sector of workers still has the capacity to bring the country to its knees. In a world where many workers complain that their power has been eroded, last week was an example of the effectiveness of brute force. In industrial relations, bargaining power is everything. In recent days, an ultimately asymmetrical war played out across the country. On one side you had truckers and farmers, a reasonably small part of the workforce, with their tractors and 16-wheelers. The other side: the far greater power of the State. As the battle lines were drawn, the Red Cow roundabout became Ireland’s Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint and source of the State’s weakness. By identifying bottle necks on the transport grid, a much smaller force managed to bring the much larger power to heel. Tactically, it was a masterclass. The big questions are where it has taken us and could it happen again?

One concern is that by capitulating and throwing money at the problem, the Government has set itself up for a repeat performance in the months ahead. What better leverage do protesters have than the months of the EU presidency, when Ireland will be putting on its finery for the swanky visitors? We all know that the one thing the Irish establishment fears is being “shown up” in front of the posh neighbours.

In this “good room thinking”, Ireland brings its guests into a metaphorical good room, where everyone is on their best behaviour. No one is allowed to upset the pretence that we use the good room every day when in fact it is kept for special occasions. During the presidency the whole country will be turned into the good room, with us keeping up appearances as calm, contented citizens. What an........

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