asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy why fishermen are still experiencing great difficulty in getting sufficient supplies of diesel.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Oil Supplies for Fishermen.
14.
I am not aware that such difficulty exists.
The Fuels (Control of Supplies) (Regulation of Deliveries of Gas Diesel Oil) Order, 1979, requires that agriculture, commerce, fisheries, hospitals and similar institutions, industry and tourism receive priority in the delivery of gas diesel oil. I have no reason to believe that these priorities are not being observed by the oil companies.
While there may have been some difficulties regarding supplies of gas diesel oil to fishing boats in certain areas, I am satisfied that overall there is an adequate supply of gas diesel oil for fishermen's reasonable requirements.
If, however, the Deputy has knowledge of any particular cases of difficulty on the part of fishermen in getting adequate supplies, arrangements will be made to provide supplies if he gets in touch with my Department.
Would it surprise the Minister to know that during a week subsequent to his making of the order, which downfaced the oil companies for good, two fishing boats worth £1 million each, on which the weekly repayments ran into thousands of pounds, were tied up for six days at Killybegs because they could not get fuel?
I understand that they were two new fishing boats from Skerries operating off the Donegal coast. They were unable to get supplies of diesel oil at Killybegs although it was relatively plentiful there. Boats that normally fish out of Killybegs get their sup plies from the local fishermen's co-operative who, in turn, get their supplies from Derry. One of the oil companies concerned indicated that supplies for these boats could be made available at another port or ports, but the company undertook to make arrangements for these boats on an ad hoc basis and did so.
Is the Minister aware that one company have terminated their supplies to their retailers and that these customers will not be taken over by other companies? In such cases those customers will not get supplies unless they pay 50 to 60 per cent extra for their diesel, and that has happened.
This question is about fishermen.
They are customers of the oil companies.
Is the Minister aware that a certain company—I believe they are the company he referred to earlier—told some of their retailers that they will not supply any further diesel in future but will insist on continuing their contract in regard to the supply of petrol and not release them totally to other companies?
There are other questions on the Order Paper which are more relevant to that matter.