Vol. 429 No. 6
120 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for the Environment the programmes, if any, he has in order to encourage the sale of unleaded petrol, in view of the fact that two-thirds of all petrol sold in the country is leaded; his views on whether a greater price differential is necessary to boost sales of unleaded petrol; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Wexford): Since its introduction on the Irish market, there has been a steady increase in the sale of unleaded petrol as a percentage of total petrol sales and this trend is continuing. In February 1992, unleaded accounted for some 30 per cent of retail petrol sales; by February 1993, the market share had grown to over 37 per cent. Unleaded market share is expected to grow significantly in the future taking account, in particular, of the fact that current EC emission standards require all new petrol engined vehicles run on unleaded.
I am keeping under review the question of incentives and campaigns to increase sales of unleaded petrol, but I do not consider that a greater price differential between unleaded and leaded petrol is necessary in current circumstances.
