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Dáil Éireann - Volume 315 - 26 June, 1979 Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Petrol Station Notices. Dr. Byrne Dr. Byrne 20. Dr. Byrne asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if he is aware that a large number of petrol stations are now displaying notices restricting the sale of petrol to the following categories “Customers only”, “Card holders only”, “Accounts only” and if he will make a statement on the matter. Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley: I am aware that certain petrol stations have displayed such notices but I am confident that the improved supply situation and the response by a large proportion of the motoring public to the campaign to reduce demand will render any restrictions of this kind superfluous. Mr. Keating Mr. Keating Mr. Keating: If this type of restriction is in order and legal, is there any regulation or statute which would ensure that people have a supply of petrol? If every garage did this overnight, the possibility is that certain people would not get supplies. Is there any illegality or irregularity about that type of restriction which could be imposed overnight? Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley: I am not aware that the practice is illegal. I believe it is now a declining practice. Mr. Keating Mr. Keating Mr. Keating: That is fair enough. Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley: Obviously one would not wish to see it repeated everywhere. That would not be practical because about 60 per cent of petrol sales are likely to be to casual customers at any given station. As a result, most of them would probably go out of business if they sought to confine their sales to people who had accounts with them only. Mr. Keating Mr. Keating Mr. Keating: It is quite legal? Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley 894 [894] Mr. O'Malley: It is not illegal. I do not want to give the impression that I would encourage it in any way. Mr. Kavanagh Mr. Kavanagh Mr. Kavanagh: Can a garage which obviously has petrol supplies refuse any customer who looks for petrol providing he falls within the regulations laid down? Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley: If the filling station in question had adequate supplies and refused to supply and the potential customer is in a position to show that, he should complain to my Department about it and the matter will be taken up with the filling station. Mr. Keating Mr. Keating Mr. Keating: That contradicts what the Minister told me a moment ago. Mr. O'Keeffe Mr. O'Keeffe Mr. O'Keeffe: What about petroleum licences? Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley: To the best of my knowledge petroleum licences are given out by the local authorities except in some rural areas where they have to get some kind of certificate from the district justice. Mr. O'Keeffe Mr. O'Keeffe Mr. O'Keeffe: The District Court. Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley: I have never heard of a case where there was an objection. Mr. O'Keeffe Mr. O'Keeffe Mr. O'Keeffe: I have often moved them. Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley Mr. O'Malley: So have I and happily I never had them opposed. There probably must be some means whereby an objection can be made. I should imagine that if there is, it is more likely to relate to safety than to these other practices. I would have to look up the Act. I could not say off-hand. The main reason for the licensing of petrol stations is to ensure that they maintain safety standards, that the tanks are buried at particular depths in the ground and that they are covered by a particular layer of concrete and things of that kind. Dáil Éireann 315 Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. Petrol Station Notices. Questions 19790626
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