Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 16 September 2016
292. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to a resurgence in the practice of diesel washing around the Border counties; his views on the continued effectiveness of the marker introduced to mark rebated fuels in March 2015 against illegal fuel laundering; the number of arrests that have been made for fuel laundering in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25599/16]
View answerI am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that they work closely with law enforcement partners both at home and abroad to disrupt and deter diesel laundering activities. Revenue co-operates extensively with, inter alia, An Garda Síochána and HM Revenue and Customs in Northern Ireland through cross-Border enforcement groups to target those that are involved in such activities.
I am also advised that the number of intermediate bulk containers, IBCs, of waste from diesel washing dumped in counties, Louth, Monaghan and Donegal have reduced significantly since the Accutrace s10 marker was introduced as evidence in the data set out in the following table.
|
Period |
Monaghan |
Louth |
Donegal |
|
Jan July 2015 |
186 |
239 |
0 |
|
Jan July 2016 |
11 |
69 |
0 |
Revenue is satisfied with the effectiveness of the new marker introduced in Ireland and the UK on the 01/04/2015. A national random sampling programme of fuel licence holders was conducted by Revenue in 2016 with a view to quantifying the extent to which laundered road diesel was evidenced among approximately 200 licensed fuel outlets. No evidence of the new marker was found in any of the traders sampled and affirms the effectiveness of the various measures introduced by Revenue over recent years, including the Accutrace s10 marker. Additionally, no fuel laundering plants have been detected in the State since the introduction of the marker and no arrests have been made for fuel laundering in the period.
The work to tackle cross-jurisdictional organised crime such as diesel laundering is supported and reinforced by the establishment, in the framework of A Fresh Start, the Stormont agreement and implementation plan, of the joint agency task force, which includes Revenue. In this context, the development of strategic and tactical plans has been agreed by all key stakeholders to further support effective action against cross-Border excise fraud. This interagency national and international co-operation is complemented by Revenue's use of intelligence gathering, risk profiling and effective intervention programmes to counter the threat posed by criminal activities such as fuel fraud.
Over the past number of years Revenue has implemented a number of strategies against fuel fraud, underpinned by an extensive and effective legislative framework to maximise the impact on the illegal operations referred to in the Deputy's question. I am satisfied that the current legislative framework provides an effective basis for action by Revenue against fuel offences, and I am assured by Revenue that action against such activities continues to be a key focus of its work.
