Who has their eye on Irish petrol prices?

THE revolt in North Africa and the Middle East began in Tunisia in mid-December. By mid-February, it had spread to Libya. By March 7 petrol prices at the pumps broke the €1.50 level in Ireland.

Has Ireland really only three weeks’ reserve of petrol, or are garages hiking up the price of stocks they bought at the old prices? Have the relevant authorities taken their eye off the ball in the twilight zone between the old government and the new one?

Michael Mernagh