The State consumer watchdog has warned fuel suppliers involved in collusion that they face ten years in jail amidst allegations of collusion over prices at filling station pumps.
Petrol and diesel continue to rise towards €2 a litre in many places.
This comes despite a reduction on taxes by the Government.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has now received more than 200 complaints from the public over prices in the past two weeks alone.
Jeremy Godfrey, chairman of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), has urged “whistleblowers” to come forward to help the probe.
He added whistleblowers inside the industry and involved in alleged criminality can seek immunity from charges.
“In general, these complaints allege that filling stations failed to pass on the duty excise reduction in a timely manner or that they have exploited the current economic situation to raise fuel prices and increase profits,” Mr Godfrey told an Oireachtas committee today.
“Some of the complaints include allegations of collusion and a few contain information about price movements at particular filling stations.”
Mr Godfrey added that the CCPC is also dealing with a number of complaints relating to “allegations of filling stations turning off their roadside pricing display”.
“We urge anyone who has specific information about collusion or any other breach of competition and consumer protection law to provide it to us,” he said.
“Whistleblowers who have information about cartels can provide us with that information anonymously at report.whistleb.com/ccpc .”
