Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the work Deputy Breathnach and his staff have put into this Bill. I bow to his superior knowledge of some of the shadowy acts involved as he lives near the Border.

However, I am not sure about going after the person who might cut a bit of timber, bag it and sell it out of the back of a van. Usually when we hear about something from the back of a van, it means there is something wrong with it. There is absolutely nothing wrong, however, with people getting a bit of fuel like that and delivering it to elderly people’s homes or a customer base which they have set up. It is up to them to keep their own tax affairs in order. However, to brand that activity as illegal is wrong. My late father, Jackie Healy-Rae, would have stood up here to say that he was here for the man selling the bag of turf or the load of timber. I am here tonight to do the exact same thing because those people in my book are respectable, providing a required service in estates or in the countryside and helping older or vulnerable people.

As for fuel laundering, we see these pop-up service stations which do not comply with any regulations. The fuel they are selling is suspect as it can be washed. These activities are backed by organised crime. It is big business and they do not care if they are only operating for a couple of weeks or months because they can make big money in a short time. It is the same as robbing a bank. They are robbing the respectable of people who paid their taxes and are fully tax compliant. They are hurting small businesses. I must declare I am one of those. I have been a fuel retailer for nearly 30 years. I have carbon licences and every other licence I am supposed to have. The last time I counted, I had something like 26 licences to my name, which is a lot. If one is to be compliant, that is what one has to do. I have to pay for every one of them. I will continue to do so as long as I am able to draw breath.

I also sell alcohol and cigarettes. I do not want to see people getting away with that on the black market because they are not paying their taxes. We have to be concerned about the quality of the product. I am sure that within five minutes from Leinster House, one could buy illegal cigarettes. What is in them? Is there rat or other poisons in them?

Last week, we had the ridiculous situation where we were putting labels on beer and whiskey products that are fully above aboard and up to all standards, stating they can cause cancer. Nobody else in Europe is doing this but we are. Of course, we have to be the first do this and give our products a bad reputation. That is why I was totally opposed to it.

The reason I have continually opposed any increase to the cost of cigarettes in budgets is because I believe it only drives people further to purchasing illegal cigarettes.

For God’s sake, the Government cannot go after the man or woman who might be supplementing his or her income a little by selling timber or turf. We cannot throw common sense out the window.

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