Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)

The Deputies opposite will get plenty of opportunity to vote before the night is out. Was any serious consideration given at Cabinet about the issue of marked fuel oil in the agricultural sector? A number of organisations provided information to the Cabinet about this. They showed that if there was an equalisation of duty on agricultural and motor fuel, together with a rebate system for approved users, it could have raised in the region of €160 million. That would thereby take out this illicit trade which causes major environmental problems along the Border. In addition, it surely has a significant impact on the State's capacity to levy appropriate taxes. Will the Tánaiste let us in on his discussions about that? Was any serious consideration given to the implementation of this matter?

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