asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will arrange to hold a public sworn inquiry into the operation of multi-national oil companies in Ireland.

There have been previous sworn inquiries by the Restrictive Practices Commission, or their predecessor the Fair Trade Commission, into the distribution activities of oil companies in Ireland and I have already asked the Examiner of Restrictive Practices to investigate as a preliminary to a further inquiry by the commission.

Does the Parliamentary Secretary intend to hold an inquiry into any aspects of these companies other than their distribution practices and possible restrictive practices within the State? Would he instigate an inquiry into their methods of trading internationally as between their subsidiaries which have the effect of keeping up the price of fuel here?

This is a matter which it would be appropriate to consider through a number of agencies and possibly the Examiner of Restrictive Practices, and the restrictive practices machinery would not be the appropriate means of investigating the matter to which the Deputy has referred. Any matter which is regarded as being a restrictive practice can be referred to the examiner and if he thinks an inquiry by the commission is necessary that inquiry can be set in train.