STATOIL Ireland Ltd has won leave in the High Court to extend the grounds for its action against a decision by Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Mr Bruton, to prohibit it from taking over Conoco Ireland Ltd's Jet Oil stations.

The two companies are suing the Minister who, on February 16th last, made an order prohibiting the merger. Last November, the Minister had referred the proposed purchase to the Competition Authority for investigation. It recommended the proposal should not be allowed to proceed.

Mr Paul Gallagher SC, for the companies, said there were two sets of proceedings and he wanted to consolidate them.

Mr Peter Shanley SC, for the Minister, said that he had no objection to the trial being consolidated by way of oral evidence subject to his being allowed to raise objections, if necessary, to the admission of certain evidence.

Mr Justice Geoghegan said he would direct that the hearing be consolidated, that the new grounds be added and that the trial be on oral evidence.