Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 416: To ask the Minister for Transport if transport stakeholders, transport workers representative groups or consumer groups have made contact or submissions to him on the impact of the increasing price of petrol and diesel on the transport sector; the plans he has both domestically and with EU partners to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23324/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The recent increases in diesel prices are not particular to Ireland but reflect a global trend which is impacting on economic growth internationally as well as in Ireland. A number of sectors in our economy are feeling the brunt of these increases and the transport sector is one of these. My Department has been in contact with the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) in the past number of weeks about the issue of rising fuel prices, and has provided assistance and information to them when Irish hauliers were being impacted by the protests that were taking place in France and elsewhere at that time.

In relation to recent concerns expressed by the IRHA about domestic diesel prices, my officials have been in contact with the IRHA. The IRHA has sought a meeting with me about these matters and I have agreed to meet them shortly to hear their concerns at first hand.

My officials have been in contact with their colleagues in the Department of Finance and the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, so that those Departments, which are centrally involved in these issues, are aware of the concerns of the transport industry.

CIE has advised me that while it has bought forward much of its 2008 fuel requirements at lower than current market price, it requires to purchase some fuel at current prices which will add to its operating costs for 2008.