Amid rumours that fuel price demonstrations may spread from the Republic to Northern Ireland, one MLA has called for any protestors to “be mindful” of how they demonstrate.

Deborah Erskine, who chairs Stormont’s infrastructure committee, made the comments as the PSNI say they are monitoring the situation for signs of possible unrest.

Protests have been taking place across the Republic in recent days, with lorries and tractors blocking roads and the army called in to move them.

This evening Dublin Airport was warning travellers to beware of “protest activity causing traffic disruption on roads approaching the airport, including the M1” (used by people travelling to and from Northern Ireland).

placeholder image — People with their luggage walk past the heavy traffic on Dublin's M50, northbound, due to vehicles taking part on the third day of a protest against rising fuel prices (Brian Lawless/PA Wire)

Online flyers have been circulating claiming that there will be similar protests in NI on Tuesday, and possibly Monday too.

DUP MLA Mrs Erskine told the News Letter: “These protests are borne out of frustration from motorists, particularly in the farming community as well.”

While she understands this, she added: “Obviously it’s important [with] critical infrastructure that people can still access services.

"It’s important for the emergency services as well. It will be important that people are able to get to their places of work, et cetera, for the economy as well.

"So I would urge people to just be mindful of that whenever they are protesting.”

She added: “I understand people’s right to protest but it is important people are allowed access to the roads, because people will have to attend places of work.

"People will have a need for emergency services to get through...

"I plead with people that if they are protesting that it must be peaceful and allow people the opportunity to get in and around critical infrastructure that’s needed to keep Northern Ireland going.”