Ireland must reduce its demand for oil products, says Minister

TEN PINTS of oil a day are consumed for every person in the State, according to Minister for Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan, who insisted that "we must divert from using oil products".

The Minister told the Dáil he was sympathetic to anyone affected by rising fuel prices but neither he nor his department had any role in the control of oil prices.

"The Government has no plans to introduce measures on transport fuel prices given the fully-liberalised nature of the market and the roles and responsibilities of the Competition Authority and the National Consumer Agency."

He told Labour energy and natural resources spokeswoman Liz McManus that he was responding "in proper policy terms".

"I have appointed a firm of leading international oil experts, Purvin & Gertz, to undertake a detailed review of security, supply and access to commercial oil supplies, including examining all internal markets and how oil is delivered.

"That is the proper policy approach, to learn what appropriate interventions and measures need to be taken."

Ms McManus had called for the Minister to intervene because "many motorists do not have the choice to take public transport. On the other hand the cost of petrol is rising at a staggering rate and more importantly the cost of diesel has outstripped it."

She said the Minister could not simply "throw up his hands, claiming he has no role in this matter". She asked him to call in the oil companies over the price of diesel, which motorists were encouraged to opt for. She insisted that "issues have arisen that are the Minister's responsibility, which must be addressed".

Ms McManus said she supported Mr Ryan's long-term plans "but I find it hard to accept that in the meantime diesel has outstripped petrol in costs", and people would be attracted by price to a more environmentally harmful fuel.

Mr Ryan said "if we are to protect our people from a peak in global oil production and a reduction in the availability of oil supplies, there is an urgent requirement to reduce our oil dependence across many sectors, such as heating, power generation and public transport".