Protest at Dublin City Council's deal with Shell

Exclusive deal with Topaz means City vehicles are supplied with fuel from Shell and Statoil

Councillor Daithí Doolan of Sinn Féin submitted a question to the City manager at the November Dublin City Council Meeting to clarify why DCC vehicles are being supplied with petrol from Shell.

Many people in Dublin, including a lot of DCC staff, have expressed dismay that the Council has an exclusive deal whcih means that they must refuel at Shell garages.

A large crowd from Shell to Sea joined the Sinn Féin councillors before the meeting to show support for Daithí's suggestion that the deal be scrapped.

Activists from the Communist Party of Ireland, the SWP, and other groups joined the Shell to Sea protest.

The answer from the City Manager was that the Council has no relationship with Shell, but rather with a comapny called Topaz.

Topaz (who recently bought Shell's forecourt business) can only supply petrol in Shell stations from Shell.

Topaz also own Statoil's forecourt business, and similiarly, they can only sell Statoil petrol in these garages.

So DCC vehicles HAVE to buy petrol from Shell and Statoil, despite the denial of a deal by the City manager.