andMr. Connolly asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that certain petroleum companies are laying down conditions regarding the sale of petrol whereby a retailer must sell a minimum of 40,000 gallons per year or suffer the loss of his supplies; if he considers this action to be unfair trading; and the steps he proposes to take in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Petrol Sales.
28.
I am not aware that petrol suppliers have laid down any such conditions; neither is the Examiner of Restrictive Practices who has had the question of petrol supplies under investigation for some time. The examiner has an undertaking from all seven petrol suppliers in this country that they will not discontinue supplies in any case without first giving him the opportunity of making a full investigation of the matter. This arrangement should remove any danger of unfair or unreasonable withdrawal of supplies in any case.
In the constituency I represent——
The Deputy must ask a question.
——the Esso representative went around——
The Deputy is making a statement. He must ask a question.
Is the Minister aware that the Esso representative went to various small retailers in rural areas and told them that as and from 1st December a supply will not be available to them?
My information is not as the Deputy has told the House. Esso have assured the examiner that in any case where it is proposed to terminate supplies the examiner will be given the opportunity of making a full examination of the matter. That was the undertaking given by Esso to the Examiner of Restrictive Practices. If the Deputy has evidence that that agreement is not being carried out, I would be very happy to hear about it. I would then insist that the agreement is carried out. The Deputy would be doing a very useful service to everybody.
An inspector went around two weeks ago and told them——
I am sorry Deputy Connolly but Deputy Callanan is asking a supplementary question.
May I take it that if we furnish any information we have to the Minister, he will see it is investigated?
Yes, the Deputy may so take it.
We shall call to the Minister's office and let him have details.
The Minister will agree he has said that, if the companies have proposals to make in this matter, they must consult with the examiner? In other words, the Minister accepts that the petrol companies are, or are intending, to make proposals to do this particular thing? Might I inform the Minister that I am aware that this is happening in the north-west?
And they do not intend to make any at all, only to railroad the small retailer if they can get away with it.