Our motorists pay 20% more for some oil products, claim FG

AGGRIEVED motorists are having to dig deeper than their European neighbours to pay for fuel, shelling out more than 20% extra for some oil products.

The claim by Fine Gael has focused attention on unfair mark-up prices for oil products in Ireland.

Consumer champions are being called upon to investigate the rip-off and expose the service stations that are failing to pass on the recent international drop in the cost of crude oil to the public.

“Motorists rightly feel aggravated by this rip-off which the Government has done nothing to stop,” said FG finance spokesman Richard Bruton.

The opposition says a check on costs on October 20 revealed pre-tax prices for oil products were far dearer than in the EU. Petrol was 11.3% dearer, while diesel was 20.1% dearer and home heating oil was 13% dearer, a snapshot survey revealed.

Mr Bruton demanded that the National Consumer Agency (NCA) investigate the difference in the prices checked, which were released by the European Commission earlier last week. “Irish motorists cannot afford to be the victims of slower market responses within the economy. Higher transport costs will have a negative effect on Irish industry. During the current recession it is especially important to remain competitive, so Irish industry can compete effectively with its European rivals in a global market place,” he said.

The survey by the commission found that for a litre of petrol at the pumps, Irish drivers were paying 5.4 cent more, while the same volume in diesel was 12.1c dearer. A litre of home heating oil was 7.4c more expensive here.

According to Fine Gael, in the past six months Irish prices have swung from being much cheaper than EU prices to being much dearer. Diesel swung from being 13% cheaper in May to 20.1% dearer in October, said the party.

The NCA could not be reached for comment. However, Consumer Association chief executive Dermot Jewell suggested the Competition Authority might investigate the barriers to motorists and others not benefiting from the crude oil price drop.

“There’s a lack of transparency as to why prices have not gone down. It will be difficult for the NCA to expose that transparency and we will probably be told the figures are confidential,” said Mr Jewell.