Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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187. To ask the Minister for Finance the options available or procedure to be followed in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who was recently contacted by the Revenue Commissioners in respect of the detection of oil in the fuel tank in their motor vehicle on 23 August 2013, and who only purchased the vehicle on 20 August 2013 and had not put any fuel in the case since the purchase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39398/13]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the keeping of marked gas oil in the fuel tank of a motor vehicle is an offence under Section 102 of the Finance Act, 1999, and carries on conviction a statutory penalty of €5,000. The vehicle in question was stopped by officers of the Revenue Commissioners on the 23 August 2013, and a detection of marked gas oil was made when the fuel tank was examined. Both the driver and her husband were subsequently interviewed under caution, during which the husband admitted to owning the vehicle for use in his business.

Having regard to the information supplied by the Deputy, the Revenue Commissioners have made further enquiries in the matter, and there is no record of any recent change of ownership of the vehicle.

The Revenue Commissioners wrote to the owner of the vehicle on 5th September 2013, and offered a compromise arrangement to him in relation to the statutory penalty. A reply to this letter is still awaited.