Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 79: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when she expects to receive a report from the National Consumer Agency on the reason for high fuel prices here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44986/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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In September this year, I requested the National Consumer Agency to undertake a survey into the underlying reasons as to why pump prices for petrol and diesel had not fallen in line with the drop in the wholesale price of oil. As part of its work, the Agency is benchmarking movements in prices in Ireland against those in other EU countries and it is examining the frequency and the timeliness in which changes in the wholesale price are being passed on to consumers. The Agency has been conducting surveys of retail prices throughout the country, and is engaging in a series of meetings and contacts with, inter alia, the main distributors and the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.

Notwithstanding that the average retail price of both petrol and diesel is now down to a little over €1 per litre, which represents a considerable reduction from the much higher prices of the summer, it is particularly important in these difficult economic times to ensure that the benefits of the dramatic decline in wholesale fuel prices are passed onto consumers and businesses to the greatest extent possible. It was for this reason that I requested the National Consumer Agency to undertake its survey into this matter. I look forward to receiving the Agency's report, which I understand will be finalized in the coming weeks.