Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Moran for coming in. It is widely known by those who have attended petrol-stretching meetings around the country that contaminated fuel was delivered to 14 or 15 filling stations in England a few months ago. All of it had to be taken out again. I know Revenue is aware of this. Has that fuel been traced to see where it went? Is there a risk that any of it came to Ireland? Perhaps it was basically dumped on this country.

I know a small bit about the nuts and bolts of this issue. When one gets fuel - petrol or diesel - at the ports in Dublin, dye or bioethanol is added to it. Is the calibration of those machines checked regularly? I understand that Revenue does not sample each lorry going out to make sure things are done properly. If each lorry going out was sampled to make sure the mix was right, and if there was an obligation for a similar sample to be taken where the fuel is delivered to, I suggest that much of what is going on at the moment could be cut down. When kerosene was allegedly mixed with green diesel, those of us involved in the machinery business had to put in a pint of engine oil to make sure it did not damage the pump. That was the only way to solve the problem. Has any investigation been done to save someone who has not yet had this problem but is in danger of it developing? Maybe something could be put into the fuel to prevent this from happening.

There has been a lot of confusion about this around the country. Revenue is good at putting out plenty of advertisements on the television and in newspapers when it is looking for money. Procedures need to be implemented. The situation needs to be explained to people throughout the country. The figures were totally wrong on what was being delivered. The figure of eight was given for Roscommon at one stage. People need to be informed to go to the Garda to make a complaint and to go to Revenue also. An advertising campaign on this is required.

Let us call a spade a spade. The Department of Finance gets most of the money out of a litre of petrol. There is, therefore, an obligation on Revenue and suppliers to resolve this problem. There is an obligation on insurance companies also. There are many people who cannot afford to fix their cars. The Department of Finance can tell insurance companies what they can and cannot do. Joined-up thinking is required because many families face decimation over this.

It was mentioned earlier that this issue does not concern cars alone. There are several ride-on lawn mowers throughout the country which have been damaged as a result of this. It may affect other things such as consaws, although a two stroke mix is used in them. However, this is a widespread problem.