Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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273. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a supply of 2 million litres of agricultural green diesel for the farm and forestry contractor service will be ring-fenced up to the end of September 2022, for the grass, silage and tillage crop harvest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20047/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Ireland is required, under its membership of the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the European Union, to hold strategic oil stocks equivalent to 90 days of net imports. The National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) maintains these strategic reserves on behalf of the State. These stocks may be released to the market in the event of a serious shortage of petroleum products arising in domestic supply chains or as part of an IEA co-ordinated release. Since the onset of the conflict in Ukraine, my Department, NORA and the oil industry have, on a daily basis, monitored the volume of product currently in the domestic supply chains, as well as tracking future expected consignments of product due to arrive at the commercial terminals, in order to identify any upcoming supply deficit.

My Department and NORA maintain plans to respond to any significant supply deficits.

The State's strategic reserves are in place to aid all sectors of the economy, including agriculture, and the importance of maintaining the availability of diesel and agri-diesel, in particular, is very much understood.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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274. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will carry out a national and independent investigation into prized competition and supply logistics in the marked gas oil market in Ireland which will help the farm and forestry sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20050/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) , under the aegis of the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment, is responsible for ensuring that commercial markets are functioning correctly and that consumers are not being unfairly disadvantaged.I understand that Marked gasoil (MGO) demand, in common with the other petroleum products, is generally relatively predictable. This, combined with the just-in-time nature of the petroleum sector and limited storage availability in many areas, means that while volumes in the commercial supply chains are usually sufficient to meet normal demand, unexpected surges in demand can cause localised shortages. In addition, from time to time, logistics issues arising for particular suppliers can also lead to localised shortages. These shortages are not uncommon, and are usually quickly resolved.