asked the Minister for Energy the methods used by his Department to ensure continuing purity and quality of petrol and if he is aware that criticisms have been made in this regard.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Petrol Quality.
20.
I am aware that criticisms have been made in the recent past about (i) a marginal reduction in the octane rating of petrol and (ii) the lead content of petrol, but I am not aware of any other complaints.
As regards (i) I would refer the Deputy to the answer given on 8 November 1979 to a question on this matter.
An EEC Directive lays down the maximum lead content for petrol to be placed on the market in member states after 1 January 1981 at 0.40 grammes per litre. The petrol produced at Whitegate has a lead content of 0.64 grammes per litre. This country has been granted a derogation from the limit for a period of five years in recognition of the fact that the additional cost of compliance would put the continued operation of the refinery in danger.
Tests are not carried out by my Department to ensure the continuing purity and quality of petrol but I am informed that the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards arranged tests in the past which confirmed that the octane ratings here were very close to those applicable under the British specifications for similar grades.
As matters stand, the prescribing of standards for petrol, or indeed for other products, is not a responsibility of my Department.
Is the Minister aware that there has been criticism about the purity and quality of petrol being supplied to garages? Is it the Minister's intention to take steps to ensure that there is a unified level of purity and quality of petrol?
I have already indicated my awareness of grounds of complaint and I dealt with them. I do not know if the Deputy is now referring to other grounds of complaint, but I am not aware of any such complaints.
Is the Minister satisfied with the frequency of testing petrol for its purity at various points throughout the country?
I have already set out the position in relation to the octane rating and the lead content. Is the Deputy referring to something else?
No.
Whose responsibility is it to ensure that retailers sell the quality of petrol they advertise?
That is a separate question.
It is related to Deputy Collins' question.
The question relates to the quality of petrol.
It is the same question.
I have indicated that my Department have not any function in regard to testing.
I should like to know who is responsible for testing if the Minister is not.
The Deputy's question relates to retailers selling the wrong quality of petrol and that is a separate matter from that raised by Deputy Collins.
Is the Minister responsible for the quality of petrol?
That is what the question put by Deputy Donnellan is about.
The Deputy's supplementary question concerned an allegation that some retailers were cheating.
Who is responsible for the quality of petrol sold by retailers?
I can only tell the Deputy about the responsibilities of my Department and I have told him that they do not include testing.
If the Minister cannot answer my question it is possible that the Taoiseach might answer it.
I have answered the question in relation to my Department.
Who is responsible for testing petrol?
I have indicated that I can only answer in respect of my Department.
Can the Minister suggest to whom I should address a further question in relation to this matter?
No. The Deputy is aware that the IIRS have certain standards. If the Deputy is asking who is responsible within the House then he will have to work it out for himself. I have told him that I am not responsible.
If that the kind of answer we can expect to get from the new Government it is a sad state of affairs.
On occasions retailers have sold low grade petrol at high grade prices and I should like to know whose responsibility it is to ensure that consumers get a fair crack of the whip.
Not the Government's responsibility, apparently.
The pack has been reshuffled so the three-card-trick is easy.