Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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182. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he and his European Union colleagues have discussed the need to ensure that the drop in world oil prices is passed to the consumer in terms of reduced prices at the pumps, home-heating costs, industrial and agriculture energy costs; if efforts continue to be made to reflect the entire reduction of world oil and gas prices in the domestic economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8422/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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Energy competitiveness is one of the three main pillars of energy policy, the other two being sustainability and security of supply. One of the main ways that competitiveness is addressed at a European level is through ensuring that the EU has well-functioning, liberalised energy markets. This is seen as the most effective means to deliver energy to consumers at lowest cost. The fall in oil and gas prices on international markets has not been a specific topic of discussion between energy ministers at recent meetings.

At a domestic level, the Commission for Energy Regulation's (CER) primary economic responsibilities in energy are to regulate the Irish electricity and natural gas sectors. There is free entry to the Irish oil market, no price control and it is Government policy to encourage price competition and consumer choice. It is important to note that the Irish oil sector is completely privatised, liberalised and deregulated and the CER has no role in the oil market.

Oil is consumed in two sectors of the economy - in transport and heating. The amount of oil used in the electricity sector is negligible at less than 1%. In terms of gasoline and diesel prices at the pump and home heating prices, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (under the aegis of the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation) has a role in ensuring that the market is functioning correctly and that consumers are not being disadvantaged. Previous investigations and surveys into oil prices, including home heating oil, have been undertaken by the National Consumer Agency (now the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission), and these are available at . The research indicates that the price paid by consumers is largely determined by taxation levels, the internationally traded price of crude oil and the consequent price at which refined product is traded in Europe, along with the level of competition in the retail market.

The European Commission maintains a Statistics and Market Observatory, which presents consumer prices and net prices (excluding duties and taxes) of petroleum products in EU Member States (known as the Oil Bulletin) on a weekly basis. The Oil Bulletin is designed to improve the transparency of oil prices and to strengthen the internal market. The relevant link is: .

I should also mention that I recently launched a public consultation on affordable energy which may be of interest to the Deputy. This is available at: .