Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 68: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has had discussions with the regulator here or his EU colleagues with a view to bringing fuel prices into line with oil prices on world markets in view to the fact that prices being charged by oil companies at filling stations remain at two thirds of the levels charged when oil prices on the world markets were at €150 a barrel and having particular regard to the very negative impact this has on the economy in general especially in the current economic climate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10390/09]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish oil industry is fully privatised, liberalised and deregulated and there is free entry to the market. There is no price control on petroleum products and it has been the policy of successive Governments to promote the model of free and fair competition with the objective of creating greater price competition and wide consumer choice.

My colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment requested the National Consumer Agency (NCA) to undertake a survey on retail prices of petrol and diesel. The NCA has now completed its report, which is available at www.consumerconnect.ie.

The NCA Report confirms that there is little evidence to suggest unwarranted delays in the passing on of wholesale price changes to the consumer at the pump. The report noted in particular that the prices that Irish retailers charge for oil products relate to the refinery price rather than to the price of crude oil. The refinery price for oil products varies with demand and does not always move in line with crude oil prices. There is a time lag between movements in crude prices and refined prices.

The prices at the pump reflect global market price, transportation costs, euro/dollar fluctuations and other operating costs. Price differences are an ongoing feature of the market economy and it is a matter for retailers to explain price differences where they occur.

The report also identified the need to improve the manner in which information on petrol and diesel prices in Ireland is collected, analysed and made available. My Department is working with the European Commission and the oil industry to improve the transparency and relevance of price statistics both in Ireland and across the EU.