Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I have no proposals to extend the use of green diesel to hauliers. Green diesel, also known as marked gas oil, MGO, is a reduced-rate diesel containing a dye and a chemical marker. It is primarily used in the agricultural sector, for example, in farm tractors and certain vehicles used for the most part by the agricultural sector, and also by construction machinery and vehicles designed for off-road use. Under EU law, the use of marked gas oil in road haulage, or by passenger carrying vehicles, is strictly prohibited. The current rate of mineral oil tax for auto diesel that is used by hauliers and private motorists is €368 per 1,000 litres. The minimum rate required by EU law is €302 per 1,000 litres. Given the existing problems with smuggling and misuse of green diesel it would not seem wise to contemplate its extension to new categories, even if EU law allowed it.

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