Doctors get drinks before prices rise

Current Account: Current Account would like to raise a glass to the good people of the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) and their battle against the demon drink.

Yesterday's IMO conference in Killarney included a number of motions clearly aimed at deterring alcohol abuse. One called on Finance Minister Brian Cowen to increase the price of spirits by 50 per cent a measure in the next budget. Another demanded that he increase duty on all alcoholic drinks by an amount greater than the rate of inflation.

But it looks like members will be drinking to forget these laudable sentiments during tomorrow's conference entertainment programme. This will include a "know your wines" session with Gregory Alken.

Shortly after swilling quality burgundy and chablis, members will move to a pre-gala dinner cocktail reception. Obviously, these won't be the same cocktails that fuel those happy-hour pub sessions which medical people describe as binge drinking. In fact, they're highly unlikely to be watered down.

Drivers have to move quickly to beat Statoil

Statoil, that model of social democratic capitalism, clearly doesn't waste time when it comes to passing on costs to Irish motorists.

Earlier this week the company said it was monitoring the increase in crude oil costs, and added that there would be a time lag before these would be passed on to drivers.

This was after its weekly price review on Wednesday, at which it decided to increase its wholesale charges by 1.58 cent a litre for petrol and 1.82 cent for diesel.

To be fair there was a "time lag" before these price hikes hit the forecourts . . . or rather, some of its retailers gave themselves a few hours to draw breath before upping their charges.

Readers tell us that Statoil service stations began passing on the wholesale increases the following midnight.

So apologies to anyone who drove to their nearest Statoil yesterday in the belief that the company had yet to increase its prices and found that, in fact, it had.

Still, you'll have the comfort of knowing that you've contributed an extra few bob to the Norwegian state pension scheme.

Dublin Bus never stops

Rising crude oil prices and melting polar ice caps must hold no fears for those muscular types in Dublin Bus.

This week, while the news was full of rising oil and motor fuel prices, some of the State-owned public transport company's drivers displayed an heroic disregard for bleeding heart concerns about energy use.

Walking along a short stretch of Fleet Street in Dublin's city centre on Tuesday and Wednesday, Current Account noticed a number of buses parked on, rather than next to, the footpath with their engines running.

No, this was not a traffic jam. In the case of three of them, one driver was cleaning his glasses, a second was doing a sudoku puzzle and a third was combing his hair. They were definitely taking a break.

We've noticed stationary buses with their engines running before at points where drivers park before setting off on their routes. Drivers have to take breaks for safety reasons (not to mention a bit of grooming). But you'd think that a taxpayer-owned company that is facing massive fuel price increases would at least look at a few ways of saving that cash.

London bargain buy

Always on the look-out for a bargain, Current Account has learned that two London office blocks have come up for sale with a price tag of more than £90 million. The buildings in question - Lunar House and Apollo House in Croydon - house "Immigration Central", headquarters of the immigration unit of the Home Office.

Far be it for us to offer investment advice, but these buildings might be just the next trick for some of those high-rolling Irish who have ploughed their millions into London property. In addition, investors would be buying into history. These buildings were named around the time of the Moon landings, more than 30 years ago, when there were more Irish builders than buyers in London. How times change.

Finder's fee by cheque only to Current Account's current account. It's only fair.