Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I support the principle of the amendments, which relate to the previous amendment and deal with the issue of fuel laundering, particularly petrol stretching which is a major issue in my part of the country.

I mentioned on Second Stage that people feel we do not have the deterrent regarding fuel laundering and particularly petrol stretching that we should have. I raised this issue with the Minister of State in the House last week. If we cannot secure criminal convictions, we need to ensure that the information that has been collated by the Revenue Commissioners is made available for a civil action because it may be possible to have a civil class action in the future. The Minister of State was to take the matter up with the Revenue Commissioners. If he has any response from them, I ask him to furnish me with that response or come back to me later. Based on SIMI figures, up to 800 people have been affected by petrol stretching across the country.

I asked the Minister on Committee Stage if he examined the possibility of providing financial assistance to people who have been affected, particularly those whose insurance does not cover them or those who have only third party cover. It is estimated the total cost to motorists of petrol stretching since June of this year is approximately €3 million and in that respect the Exchequer has taken in roughly €400,000 in VAT alone. If that money could be recouped by those people who cannot access compensation, it would at least provide them with some financial assistance. The Minister was to examine that issue for Report Stage.

The third issue I wish to raise is one I raised with the Minister for Finance last week, namely, that there is a differential in the standards required in regard to diesel compared to those required in regard to petrol. The returns and paperwork required of retailers in regard to diesel by the Revenue Commissioners are far higher than those required in regard to petrol. We need to make sure we can successfully prosecute those who have been involved in this practice. We also need to consider what financial assistance we can give people and ensure we do not find ourselves in this situation down the road. The only way to do that is to ensure the level of policing in regard to diesel laundering that has been introduced by the Revenue Commissioners is also introduced in regard to petrol stretching. The Minister made the argument on Committee Stage that the reason there was a far higher level of scrutiny in regard to diesel was because of the huge potential loss to the Exchequer. I made the point to him that the potential loss to motorists as a result of petrol stretching is far greater than is the case with diesel laundering and that we need to have similar standards in place. I hope those issues can be taken on board and that the Minister of State can indicate some progress on those three important issues.

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