Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have a number of questions on the annual report but I will start with fuel laundering. On page 162, paragraph 12.26 of the report, it states:

Revenue does not estimate the loss to the Exchequer as a result of fuel laundering. A report published in May 2016 estimated the loss to be €239 million in 2015.

The report in question was produced by Grant Thornton. Earlier today, Mr. Cody said the tax loss as a result of fuel laundering was not quantifiable. We have gone through the difficulties arising in calculating this but it is not a satisfactory position from the point of view of the Committee of Public Accounts. If it is not estimated and not quantifiable, we are not starting from a good place. The report also mentions that clean-up costs were €6.7 million so, aside from fuel laundering itself, it has knock-on costs. The environment Department had to pick up the tab for that through local authorities. Agriculture sells itself on the basis that it operates in a clean, green, environment so this is damaging to our agricultural process too. Mr. Cody mentioned designer fuel. Can he briefly touch on that? It is another new concept.