Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

The Irish oil industry is fully privatised, liberalised and deregulated. There is free entry into the market. The Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, is the independent body statutorily responsible for overseeing and regulating Ireland's electricity and gas sectors. The CER has no role in regard to the oil industry. The Competition Authority is a statutory independent body with a specific role in the enforcement of competition law. The National Consumer Agency has specific responsibilities for protecting the rights of consumers. Its function is to ensure that competition works optimally for the benefit of consumers throughout the country.

There are no proposals at present to bring forward measures to give the CER a role in regard to the Irish oil industry, given the nature of the market and the roles and responsibilities of the Competition Authority and the National Consumer Agency.

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