Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 October 2014
49. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Finance the checks in place to ensure the petrol purchased by consumers in filling station forecourts is fit for purpose and has not been contaminated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38922/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra50. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Finance if he will put adequate checks in place to ensure that the petrol consumers are purchasing at filling station forecourts is fit for purpose and has not been contaminated so as to avoid loss to motorists through damage to their vehicles from such petrol and to the Exchequer on account of excise duty fraud and to protect legitimate businesses in the oil and motor trade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38941/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 50 together.
I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners, who are responsible for tackling fuel fraud, that they are aware of the risks posed to consumers' vehicles, legitimate businesses and the exchequer by all forms of such fraud. Revenue had made great progress in tackling the problem of diesel laundering over the last three years, and reports now indicate the emergence of another form of fuel fraud, commonly known as petrol stretching. This involves the illegal addition of a low cost commodity to petrol to defraud the exchequer and the motorist.
I am advised by Revenue that they are investigating the recent reports concerning petrol stretching and that they have been in contact with the motor and oil trades. I understand also that they have taken samples from a number of filling stations that it has been claimed may have been sources of adulterated fuel, and that they will undertake any further enquiries and sampling that are required as a result of reports or information that they receive. These enquiries will seek to establish if there is evidence that petrol stretching has occurred, and whether there is evidence to support a prosecution. The analysis of petrol samples is time-consuming and results in respect of the samples recently taken are awaited.
Revenue and the oil sector have cooperated very successfully to tackle diesel laundering and I am confident that, with this cooperation, and with the supply chain information available to Revenue, any problems of petrol stretching can also be tackled successfully. It is essential that petrol distributors report any reduction in the pattern of legitimate supplies of fuel to the retail trade which may indicate that specific traders are shifting some of their sourcing to laundered or "stretched" fuel.
Motorists themselves should take care about where they source their petrol and report to Revenue any suspicions concerning the source of adulterated petrol that may have damaged their engines. Revenue will investigate such reports and pursue prosecutions where possible. In that regard, Revenue has recently launched a dedicated section of its website specifically on the shadow economy and this includes an electronic reporting facility for anyone who has information about shadow economy practices including petrol stretching.
