Fuel price gouging slammed by Laois Offaly politician

Obvious fuel price gouging has been slammed by a Laois Offaly politician.

Barry Cowen TD is writing to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission(CCPC) over what he branded “obvious” price gouging. 

Writing to comp & consumer protection commission quoting obvious price gauging. Evidence from across social media, across the country, where many petrol/diesel forecourts increased prices yesterday in advance of & again today after Dail legislated to reduce excise duties.

— Barry Cowen (@CowenBarry) March 10, 2022

“Evidence from across social media, across the country, where many petrol/diesel forecourts increased prices yesterday in advance of and again today after Dail legislated to reduce excise duties,” he tweeted.

The tweet follows a the announcement of a reduction on duty on petrol by 20 cent and diesel by 15 cent per litre yesterday. A two cent reduction was also announced for green diesel. 

Deputy Cowen's letter to the CCPC states:  

"I am contacting you in relation to the increased in retail prices of petrol and diesel.

I am concerned that some retailers may be engaging in 'price gouging' or unjustified profiteering in the wake of the war in Ukraine and sanctions on the Russian Federation leading to increased energy costs.

Photos have been shared on social media of the high cost of petrol and diesel per litre, with

assertions being made that the cost increased dramatically overnight-sometimes apparently

by the sum of the planned Government reduction in excise duty on petrol and diesel.

The Taoiseach has said any exploitation of a barbaric war such as this is morally reprehensible and such profiteering is completely unacceptable on fuel prices.

I believe that it is now essential for the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to look into this matter. I am sure mine will not be the only correspondence that you receive on the issue.

I urge you to act immediately and to give this investigating full priority."