Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 124: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the fuelwatch website in Australia which is a government fuel monitoring service; if he envisages a role for a similar initiative here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43631/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The Irish oil industry is fully privatised, liberalised and deregulated and there is no price control on petroleum products in Ireland. Retail prices reflect global market price, transportation costs, Euro/Dollar fluctuations and other operating costs.

I would advise the Deputy that the National Consumer Agency, which operates under the aegis of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, is currently undertaking a survey into the relationship between pump prices for petrol and diesel and the wholesale price of crude oil. I understand that as part of its work, the Agency will seek to benchmark movements in prices in Ireland against those in other EU countries and that it will also seek to examine the frequency and the timeliness in which changes in the wholesale price are being passed on to consumers. I understand that the Agency expects to finalise its report into this matter very shortly.

The Australian website referred to by the Deputy is essentially a consumer protection initiative. My Department has brought it to the attention of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and the National Consumer Agency.