asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he has made any arrangements with the oil companies regarding their deliveries of the various grades of fuel to the retail trade.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Oil Deliveries.
18.
On 16th November, 1973, under the powers conferred on me by the Fuels (Control of Supplies) Act, 1971, I made orders placing restrictions on deliveries by oil wholesalers and distributors of (i) motor spirit and (ii) gas diesel oil, kerosene and fuel oil, with immediate effect.
In the case of motor spirit, delivery by an oil wholesaler or distributor during the quarter ending 31st December, 1973, is restricted to:—
(i) 45 per cent of "normal deliveries" in the case of a retailer, or
(ii) 47½ per cent of "normal deliveries" in the case of a commercial consumer.
Delivery of gas diesel, kerosene and fuel oil by an oil wholesaler or distributor during the quarter ended 31st December, 1973 is restricted to:
(i) 45 per cent of "normal deliveries" when required for domestic heating or for heating in an office, shop, factory, public hall, educational establishment, religious premises, catering establishment, hotel, guest house or place of entertainment, recreation or sport, or for sale by retail, or
(ii) 47½ per cent of "normal deliveries" when required for any other purpose.
"Normal deliveries" are defined in the orders as the quantities delivered in the six months ended 31st March, 1973, with special provision for new consumers and consumers who have significantly changed the character of their businesses. As the base period is one of six months the percentages quoted are equivalent to 90 per cent and 95 per cent of last winter's deliveries.
The Minister has replied at a pace that would indicate he is trying to break the world speed reading record.
I am willing to read the reply again to facilitate the House.
I would be obliged if the Minister would repeat the reply, and speak a little louder.
On 16th November, 1973, under the powers conferred on me by the Fuels (Control of Supplies) Act, 1971, I made orders placing restrictions on deliveries by oil wholesalers and distributors of (i) motor spirit and (ii) gas diesel oil, kerosene and fuel oil, with immediate effect.
In the case of motor spirit, delivery by an oil wholesaler or distributor during the quarter ending 31st December, 1973, is restricted to:
(i) 45 per cent of "normal deliveries" in the case of a retailer, or
(ii) 47½ per cent of "normal deliveries" in the case of a commercial consumer.
Delivery of gas diesel, kerosene and fuel oil by an oil wholesaler or distributor during the quarter ended 31st December, 1973, is restricted to:
(i) 45 per cent of "normal deliveries" when required for domestice heating or for heating in an office, shop, factory, public hall, educational establishment, religious premises, catering establishment, hotel, guest house or place of entertainment, recreation or sport, or for sale by retail, or
(ii) 47½ per cent of "normal deliveries" when required for any other purpose.
"Normal deliveries" are defined in the orders as the quantities delivered in the six months ended 31st March, 1973, with special provision for new consumers and consumers who have significantly changed the character of their businesses. As the base period is one of six months the percentages quoted are equivalent to 90 per cent and 95 per cent of last winter's deliveries.
Would the Minister state what method he has of checking whether the deliveries are being made in accordance with the regulations? Is he aware that some retailers have been informed that they will not get further supplies until January, while deliveries seem to be going rather constantly to other retailers? There is irregularity as to who is getting what. Is the Minister further aware that petrol station proprietors are telling the public that they are restricted to 45 per cent supply in some cases while they are asked to give 90 per cent supply to customers. The Minister should be aware that there is absolute chaos in the service stations throughout the country in regard to the frequency of supply at the present time.
This is a very long statement.
There is chaos in regard to the supply of fuel of all grades.
I think the 45 per cent is a misreading by some of the retailers of a copy of my order that was sent to them by their wholesalers. The base period is the 1st October, 1972, to 31st March, 1973. The 45 per cent of that will be given to them for a three-month period, and that makes 90 per cent from 1st October this year to 31st December this year. Some of them read it as 45 per cent of their normal deliveries. That is not the case; it is 90 per cent. I chose the six-months' base because I thought it would be fairer than three months' case which might have certain irregularities in regard to collections.
As regards the chaos in the garages of the city to which the Deputy refers, I regret to say that there are many selfish people in the country who are topping up their tanks unnecessarily. In fact, I have had instances reported to me of people who drew up at petrol stations looking for a fill-up and taking 8p, 10p or 15p worth of petrol. These people are making it more difficult for others, like taxi-drivers, travellers, priests, doctors, people who require petrol for their business, to get it. The energy situation in this country and throughout the world is serious at the moment, but it is not critical. People who insist on this kind of hording up fuel will make it critical and it will necessitate the introduction of rationing unless they desist from this. The garages and the oil companies are behaving in a responsible way. Many motorists are also behaving in a responsible way, but there are a number of selfish people who are bedevilling the situation and may make it necessary to bring in rationing.
In view of what the Minister stated and the fact that it is agreed that there are selfish people making excessive demands on petrol stations, would he not consider introducing rationing now in the interests of people who need petrol for priority purposes? At the moment there are people literally depending on their cars——
That is a separate question.
——and they can get only 50 pence worth of petrol. There is actually a shortage at the moment due to these selfish people. Would it not be advisable, instead of waiting until the situation gets critical, to introduce rationing in the interests of all concerned, which the public would approve of?
I appreciate the point of view being put by the Deputy, but the situation is not serious enough yet for rationing; it may come to that. At the moment there are ample supplies of fuel in the country if they are carefully used, if people are not excessive in their demands, if they cut down their central heating, use their cars far less than they are using them. If people are greedy it may be necessary to introduce rationing, and my Department is ready to introduce it at short notice, if necessary.
Would the Minister not accept that rationing need be nothing more than regulation, that there can be rationing at various levels? The problem is that some people are spending a great deal of time and petrol travelling around the city looking for a place to fill up. Would the Minister not consider, even to avoid the waste that is occuring in that area, the possibility of rationing, even at a generous level, so that there will be some regularity in the position?
While rationing would appear to be a fairer system generally, take the case of a rural doctor who has a lot of travelling to do; he will get only the same allowance under rationing as a specialist in Merrion Street or somewhere like that. At the moment I would appeal to the people not to use their cars so much, not to top up their tanks; if the tank is only half full, to leave it until next week; they will have plenty to keep them going for the coming week. They should desist from buying up stocks that should be made available to people who must have a car for their business.
Would the Minister consider reviewing the matter in a week or two? At the moment it is very serious. Could he review the situation in the light of what is happening?
It is reviewed daily. There are constant meetings between myself and the officials of my Department, with the oil companies, with the garage owners and other people involved like that. The situation is kept under constant review and I report to the Government each week on what the position is. If it is necessary we shall bring in rationing, but we do not want to do that unless we have to.
Would the Minister not agree that his announcement of a 10 per cent voluntary reduction was a foolish one, that it only had the effect of causing excessive demand, so that people who could afford it filled up with everything they could lay hands on.
I agree that people who could afford it have filled up with everything they could lay their hands on. The situation is serious. There is a fuel shortage in the world and in Ireland, and we must make some effort to bring it home to people that they are not going to live in future in a cheap oil situation, that it will probably be very much dearer and probably, for a number of years, scarce as well. We must discipline ourselves to control our use of the energy resources we have.
Is there not a need to regulate it?
If necessary that will be done, but it is not serious enough yet for formal rationing. The regulations we have introduced, with the co-operation of the public, are quite adequate.
A final question from Deputy Callanan.
Is the Minister aware that many members of the general public have co-operated and that there are not as many cars on the road? We are supposed to get 90 per cent of normal supplies of petrol, but that does not appear to be the case. This chaotic situation does not apply only to Dublin, but throughout the country as well. I would also ask the Minister if he has checked with the oil companies. The feeling down the country is that oil is going to go up in price, that it is being held and is not being given in certain filling stations down the country. If we are getting 90 per cent of petrol——
The Deputy is abusing the privilege I gave him.
I do not agree that it is being held in the hope of a price rise.