The Irish Road Haulage Association has called on its members to boycott Dublin's toll bridges in protest at the "unacceptable conditions" facing drivers.

The association blamed gridlock caused by the toll system for a combination of journey delays and increased fuel consumption, which it said was reducing productivity by up to a third "at a time when margins are already tight due to the down-turn in the economy".

The association's communications director, Mr Gerry McMahon, said that on both East Link and West Link bridges, service had "deteriorated rapidly" over the past three years:

Mr McMahon said National Toll Roads and the Department of the Environment were the only groups presently experiencing financial gain from the toll system, and the association was "totally opposed" to the tolling of new routes.