Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 April 2012
86 Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the approximate loss to Revenue from fuel laundering; the expenditure on policing and prosecuting fuel launderers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18918/12]
View answerThe Deputy will appreciate that it is not possible to estimate accurately the loss to the Exchequer from particular activities in the shadow economy such as fuel laundering. It is clear, however, that the scope for loss of tax revenue from illegal activity in the fuel market is significant, and that this criminality also threatens legitimate businesses and the environment. Combating it is, therefore, a key priority for the Revenue Commissioners, who have undertaken extensive enforcement action against both fuel launderers and those selling laundered fuel. This action will continue, and Revenue will be assisted in this important work by the legislative action which I took in the recent Finance Act to enhance the control and supervision of the supply chain for fuels. Revenue is an integrated tax and customs administration and it is not possible to disaggregate resources deployed exclusively on policing fuel laundries.
The Revenue Commissioners have around 2,000 staff engaged on activities that are dedicated to target and confront non-compliance. These activities include audit, assurance checks, anti-smuggling, debt management, investigations, prosecutions and anti-avoidance. The Revenue Commissioners have assured me that, notwithstanding the reduction in overall staff levels in accordance with Government policy on public service numbers, tackling non-compliance such as fuel laundering, the on-going sale of laundered fuel and use of laundered fuel remains a key priority.
The prosecution of tax-related criminal offences involves a number of public bodies including Revenue, State Solicitors and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. It would not be possible, therefore, to provide information on the overall expenditure on prosecuting offences.
