It was "quite disgraceful" that some petrol station proprietors were not passing on the VAT and excise duty reductions announced in the Budget, the Minister of State with responsibility for consumer affairs has said.
Mr Tom Kitt said the Government brought in the reductions to benefit the consumer, not for the enrichment of petrol station owners. "Motorists should literally drive by petrol outlets that are not providing good value for money," he added.
It was also of "huge concern" that, in some cases, stations selling the same brand of petrol were charging different prices. The argument about local circumstances did not hold up, he said.
Motorists should realise their enormous power when it came to this issue, added Mr Kitt.
A random survey of petrol stations carried out by The Irish Times last week found motorists can pay up to £4 extra for an average 50-litre fill if they do not shop around. The price of crude oil has been dropping as well as VAT and duty. The strength of the dollar is also a factor in prices.
A small number of stations do not have prices displayed in accordance with legislation. Consumers with information about such stations should complain to the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs, Mr Kitt said.
Under the Retail Prices (diesel and petrol) Display Order 1997, stations must display their prices so that they are visible from the road.