asked the Minister for Energy whether the compulsory offtake regime for refined products operated by the Irish National Petroleum Corporation gives rise to an additional cost to the consumer; if so, the amount; the reason he has advised the Irish National Petroleum Corporation not to appear before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Commercial State-sponsored Bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The operation of the compulsory offtake regime for refined product by the Irish National Petroleum Corporation does not give rise to significant additional costs to the final consumer in the Irish market. In addition, as pointed out in a previous reply to the Deputy, in the light of Whitegate's performance since 1982 and given the characteristics and performance of the Irish oil distribution sector in the same period, it cannot be argued that the offtake regime, of itself, creates a high cost environment for petrol and oil products in the economy.

The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Commercial State-sponsored Bodies has, on several occasions over the last two years, requested the participation of the INPC in an examination by the committee of their affairs. While successive Ministers for Energy and the corporation have been most anxious to facilitate the wishes of the committee, certain issues which would be examined by the committee are sub judice and it was, and is, considered unlikely that they could be dealt with without prejudice to the interests of the State.