asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the number of petrol stations in the Dublin area which are owned and operated by persons or companies other than petrol distribution companies, i.e., the number of independent petrol stations; his views on whether any restrictive practice may be involved in this area or any possibility of an abuse of a monopoly position; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Petrol Stations.
69.
Statistics are not available on a geographic basis in relation to the ownership and operation of petrol stations; such statistics are only returned nationally.
Under successive Restrictive Practices Orders since 1972 the number of petrol stations owned or operated by petrol distribution companies has been frozen at the number in existence at that time and, under the terms of the existing Order — Restrictive Practices (Motor Spirit and Motor Lubricating Oil) Order, 1981 — new wholesalers or suppliers to the market may not own or operate more than 20 stations.
Those provisions and others in the order are designed to guard against unfair practices and the danger of any abuse of a monopoly position by any one or more of the major oil companies and I believe that they do so satisfactorily.