Petrol stations may have to ration fuel at the pumps for only essential workers if there are oil shortages this winter.
The government's emergency energy group is discussing contingency plans in the event of fuel shortages caused by the ongoing war in Ukraine.
It's believed emergency plans could also be formulated to guarantee fuel and electricity supplies to key industries like food and medicine producers.
It's thought some service stations could be tasked with providing fuel to more than 40 categories of emergency and essential workers, if the country faces shortages this winter.
Paddy Comyn from AA Ireland says people shouldn't be 'overly alarmed' and emphasises it's just a contingency plan to prepare for a worst-case-scenario.
