asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state whether there is any difference in the retail price of petrol supplied by petrol companies to public transport concerns and the price of petrol supplied to ordinary private and commercial concerns in the Republic; and, if so, the amount of such difference per gallon.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Petrol Prices.
The price at which public transport concerns purchase their requirements of petrol is a matter for negotiation between these concerns and their suppliers and I have no function in the matter.
Does the Minister consider it fair that public transport companies which have monopolies should receive petrol at a much cheaper rate than the public taximan on the streets of Dublin or the private hackney car owner throughout the country?
I am not quite clear as to what point the Deputy is getting at in his question. I would be surprised to know of any public transport concern which buys petrol at the same price as the ordinary consumer. Public transport companies, like all other large consumers, get petrol at a cheaper rate because they buy in quantity.
They get petrol cheaper.
And so does every other large concern.