Feargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday a number of Senators raised the problem of diesel laundering in Border counties. The system we have does not work and we must do something about it. That part of the country is almost like mafia territory. The Revenue Commissioners estimate 150 filling stations do not obey the law and use fuel with a dye in it. We were told the new dye would work and that it would be impossible to remove, but clearly it is not working.

We need to find a different system to overcome this problem. I do not know what the answer is, but it has been suggested the Government should register and provide fuel free of dye to farmers and have them seek a rebate. This cannot be done on this side of the Border only; we must also get the North and Britain to do it. There is an answer, which is to do away with the dye in the fuel because it is making it far too easy to engage in diesel laundering. Once the dye is in the fuel it encourages the mafia-type behaviour taking place. We must do something about it. We have seen the amount of criminality taking place and the answer is in our own hands. We must not leave it in the hands of those gangsters, who use it at an estimated cost of €10 million per year to the Exchequer. We can do something about it.