asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if his attention has been drawn to press reports of continuing shortages in petrol supplies in certain parts of the country, and the steps he has taken to remedy these shortages if they exist.

I am aware that there have been press reports about shortages in petrol supplies though such reports have been few in the past week or so. Reports of petrol shortages in some areas still come to hand but investigation of such reports recently has revealed the existence of special factors at local level. In all such instances my Department have taken steps to have the situation remedied.

I should add, however, that in present circumstances it would be unrealistic to expect that oil supplies of all kinds, including petrol, will continue to be in unlimited supply. It should be clear to all by now, having regard to reports by oil companies of shortages of one kind or another, that maximum economy in use of petrol and other kinds of oil is necessary by all of us.

Did the Minister see a report in The Evening Press as recently as last Saturday to the effect that petrol was being sold at a filling station in Drimnagh at £1.20 a gallon, the reason being that the station could not get their ordinary supplies at the usual price, and that the owner of the station was quoted as saying that they had a contract with Shell for a monthly allocation but, like many other stations, they had been running short before their next allocation?

If petrol was sold at a retail level at £1.20 a gallon that is illegal and the proprietor of the station in question would appear to be in breach of the law. I will have the matter investigated if the Deputy will give me his name and address.

I did not put the question down in order to set the Minister on the heels of a man who is selling something which he cannot get at any other price.

The Deputy has done that.

The question of the scarcity is the one in which I am interested. Does the Minister accept, when he finds that this irregularity is going on, that there is a shortage in many filling stations?

Some filling stations in the country, a very small proportion indeed I am glad to say, have less petrol than they might wish to have because of the considerable growth in demand, part of which is engendered by the exceptional economic growth in this country and part of which is engendered by hoarding.

This irregularity is taking place in most parts of this country.

The Minister stated that the Department will take steps to relieve the situation. What steps does the Minister propose to take in these circumstances?

The man in Drimnagh?

Concerning the scarcity of petrol.

When we get a complaint about a difficulty in a certain area my Department take steps to seek to rectify it.

Would the Minister tell the House——

Does the Deputy want to listen to the answer?

I would like to know what steps——

I am trying to tell the Deputy that, if he would sit down and relax. When my Department get a complaint and, incidentally we have had very few in the last fortnight, about difficulty in supply on the part of a user or a retailer, we take the matter up with the company which has habitually being supplying petrol. In the great majority of cases, perhaps 95 per cent of them, my Department have been able to obtain satisfaction for the complainant within 24 hours. That will continue to be the practice. If the Deputy has any specific user of oil in mind I suggest that he give the details of that problem to the relevant section in my Department who I am confident will be able to continue to rectify such difficulties within a short time.

Prosecution is the only answer the Minister has at the moment.

The Deputy's suggestion, apparently, is that I should.

That information was in the papers.

Pretending that Deputy Kelly has just brought it to the Minister's attention is not true and the Minister knows that.

The Government are somewhat out of touch if they do not even read the evening papers.

It was on the front page of the Evening Press.

Deputy Deasy wishes to ask a supplementary. We are making very poor progress and I will not allow more supplementaries of a similar type.

What is the percentage cutback in the amount of petrol presently being distributed in comparison with normal distribution quotas?

The amount of petrol sold so far this year is about 109 per cent of what it was last year.

Since the crisis started—that is the question.

Question No. 5.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Did I understand the Minister to say that most petrol filling stations have enough supplies to meet their demands?

Yes.

It will come as a great surprise.

With reference to the petrol station mentioned by Deputy Kelly, I would like the House and Deputy Kelly to know that this filling station——

A question, Deputy.

——is one of the very few filling stations that provide a 24-hour service, and despite the question of a shortage of petrol this filling station remained open for the full 24 hours during this time. I am aware of the notice that appeared in the paper and so on.

Question No. 5.

Order, please. Deputy Kelly should have more sense than to get into arguments.

This notice appeared in the paper only last Saturday and only on last Saturday did this increased charge take place.

It did take place?

Question No. 5.

5.