asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he has received any explanation from the petrol companies responsible for the last abortive price increase demand made for petrol; if he is satisfied that there was no justification for such increase; and if he proposes to ask for an explanation from the petrol companies concerning the price increases which preceded the most recent one to ascertain whether they were justified or not.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Petrol.
41.
If, as I presume, the Deputy's question refers to the increase of 1d. per gallon in the price of petrol recommended to their members by the Irish Motor Traders Association in November, 1964, the position is that I am awaiting a submission from the Association in the matter. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.
Do I take it the Minister proposes to investigate the price rise preceding the one he stopped?
To what price rise is the Deputy referring?
There were four increases which took place previous to that one.
And some reductions.
The effective change was an increase so that the price was substantially higher here than in Britain. Why?
The price increase immediately preceding the one in respect of which I took action and to which the Deputy referred was a 3d. a gallon increase as a result of the Budget.
The price was between 5d. and 6d. higher than in Great Britain. Why?
Other Deputies have rights in this House as well as Deputy Browne.
Will the Minister not answer? Could I ask the Minister when does he think he will have a reply?
Deputy Browne has asked three or four supplementary questions.
The Minister is trying to answer me, Sir.
Deputy Browne is taking no notice of the Chair. I have reminded him that he has asked three or four supplementary questions.
Let us meet five days a week if we cannot complete our business.
The Deputy is not entitled——
Why not meet three or four times a week? These are important questions affecting our constituents. Prices are important matters affecting our constituents.
I am not going to allow——
We have a right to query the Minister until we are satisfied. That is what he is there for.
Deputy Browne is not only obstructing the Minister but obstructing the Chair.
I am not.
He will not allow me to speak.
I am trying to do my job as a Deputy, trying to find out why prices are so high and the Minister doing damn all about them.
The Deputy is asking three or four supplementary questions.
I am not; I am asking only one.
Three or four.
There is no limit. We can sit five days a week.
The Deputy can because he has nothing else to do.
Mr. Ryan
The Tánaiste is doing nothing else, anyway.
Deputy Browne will have to confine himself to one supplementary question until all these questions are answered.
There is no such rule in the House.
There is a rule that the Chair decides the number of supplementary questions.
You cannot make up rules as you go along.
I am making the rule now.
As long as you confine us all to the same rule, I will accept.
I am allowing everybody in the House one supplementary.
I think it is wrong——
There are other Deputies asking questions. They are entitled to at least as much consideration as Deputy Browne.
I am asking for as much consideration as they are given.
Is the Chair ruling that there will be only one supplementary question allowed?
I am.
I am never allowed to ask a supplementary at all.