asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will now state the measures he proposes to take in connection with the restrictive practices obtaining in relation to the sale of petrol, having regard to the fact that he stated in the Dáil on the 13th July, 1950, that he hoped to make rapid progress in remedying this matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sale of Petrol.
I would refer the Deputy to the reply given in Dáil Éireann on 26th October, 1950, to a question in regard to restrictive practices in trade. I have nothing to add at present to that reply.
Is the Minister aware that considerable difficulty is created in rural areas by reason of the fact that the Motor Traders' Association and the petrol distributing companies will not permit persons to erect pumps or to supply the trade in these areas? Will the Parliamentary Secretary say what success has attended the Minister's efforts? The Minister told us last July that he hoped to reach a successful conclusion in the matter in the near future.
I appreciate the difficulties to which the Deputy refers, but I am not aware that there is any difficulty in supplying the country with supplies of petrol. I understand that the existing arrangements provide an adequate supply in rural areas. The general problem of price control is still under consideration. If and when any proposals are necessary they will be brought before the Dáil.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that in recent weeks, while the Minister for Agriculture is advocating the mechanisation of farms, the petrol traders have actually refused to give the ordinary wholesale concession to people using tractors that consume petrol of supplying the petrol at the rate at which they have obtained it for a number of years past?
If the Deputy gives me particulars I shall have the matter looked into.