Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

Will the Leader consider a debate on the spiralling cost of fuel, petrol and diesel? As a result of the difficulties in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere, the cost of petrol has risen to €1.05 per litre and diesel to more than 90 cent. Each rise in fuel costs, affects the cost of goods being supplied. The road haulage firms appeared before the Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business on Wednesday, 2 June 2004 and are deeply concerned about the impact of these increases on the economy. I appeal to the Minister for Finance to take on board the suggestion that the Department of Finance should consider stabilising the revenue generated from fuel and not take the windfall increase resulting from the increased cost of the raw material.

Illegal organisations in the Border counties engaged in washing diesel and supplying it to cowboy operators are taking up to €20 million a year from the Exchequer in tax foregone. This is daylight robbery and the Revenue Commissioners are not taking enough action to curb this trade. This is a simple and straightforward issue. Instead of dipping the fuel tanks of small farmers at marts in Roscommon and elsewhere, the Revenue Commissioners would be better off investigating the operations in the Border counties.

May I draw the attention of Members to this historic day in the Seanad, as it is the last day of the dual mandate and I wish to mark its passing?