Offaly TD hits out at 'obvious price gouging' at petrol pumps

Offaly TD Barry Cowen has hit out at what he describes as "obvious price gouging" at petrol stations around the country today after the government moved to cut excise on fuel last night.

The government last night moved to cut excise duty on petrol and diesel by 20 and 15 cent respectively but motorists this morning have seen little or no change in prices at the pumps.

Taking to Twitter, Offaly TD Barry Cowen said he was writing to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commisison to quote the "obvious price gouging."

He said he would quote 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."

Social media users are flooding platforms with snaps of pumps where prices are still predominantly above €2. 

Other users claim petrol stations can only pass on the cut to excise duty on new stock and so prices could remain higher in some stations over the coming days. 

The excise cuts on petrol and diesel took effect from midnight last night having been signed off an hour earlier by government.