Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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36. To ask the Minister for Finance the quantity of petrol which was identified in Bournemouth, England, last summer as contaminated and subsequently rejected as unfit for the UK market that was imported into this jurisdiction and by whom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46410/14]

Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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37. To ask the Minister for Finance if the Revenue Commissioners have established the source and chain of supply of contaminated petrol complained of by hundreds of persons in County Mayo and elsewhere since last summer whose vehicles have been destroyed or seriously damaged; the action that is being taken in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46411/14]

Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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38. To ask the Minister for Finance the road side checks of petrol tankers for contaminated fuel that have been conducted by the Revenue Commissioners since last summer and prior to that as a matter of standard practice; the number and nature of such checks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46412/14]

Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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39. To ask the Minister for Finance the checks of petrol tanks in filling stations for contaminated fuel that have been conducted by the Revenue Commissioners since last summer and prior to that as a matter of standard practice in County Mayo in particular and elsewhere around the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46413/14]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 36 to 39, inclusive, together.

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners, who are responsible for tackling fuel fraud, that they are very aware of the risks posed to consumers' vehicles, legitimate businesses and the Exchequer by all forms of fuel fraud.

Revenue undertakes, on an ongoing basis, an extensive programme of compliance and enforcement actions to ensure adherence to the legal requirements governing the supply and sale of mineral oil and to allow action to be taken against fraud. This involves, among other things, carrying out analysis of the monthly oil movement returns that oil traders are required to make, and of other supply chain data. In addition, Revenue officers conduct control or compliance visits to mineral oil traders, during which they examine transport and movement documentation and take samples of fuel for analysis.

Revenue officers have visited and taken samples from every filling station about which a complaint has been made in the context of the current concerns about fuel contamination, and these samples have been analysed by the State Laboratory. From June 2014 to date 175 samples have been subject to scientific analysis.  Despite extensive testing by the State Laboratory, no evidence of any prohibited stretching agent has been found in any of the samples, except two samples taken from one site on the eastern seaboard.  The conclusive results received in that particular case has resulted in seizure of the product and closure of the facility and a file is being prepared for prosecution.

Following a series of further tests conducted by the State Laboratory, results have been received in recent days which indicate the presence of traces of road diesel in several samples taken from a variety of locations (including Co. Mayo).  This could indicate that petrol was contaminated with road diesel at some point in time.  There is no rational economic reason or fraudulent incentive for anyone to deliberately mix normal road diesel with petrol.  This contamination could have taken place earlier in the summer, well ahead of the problems manifesting themselves in cars in Co Mayo and elsewhere.

If the problems that have come to light were caused by an unintended contamination as a result of diesel being inadvertently mixed into petrol at some point along the supply chain, there would be no Revenue offence involved.  However, the Deputy can be assured that the Revenue Commissioners are vigorously investigating the possibility of tax fraud being associated with the identified problems. In any instances where the analysis of petrol samples by the State Laboratory indicates the presence of illegal stretching agents, Revenue will take swift and robust action and pursue prosecutions against offenders where possible.  They will also continue to work closely with An Garda Síochána and share information and intelligence on this issue.

I am advised also that, as part of Revenue's normal operating procedures, fuel delivery tankers are challenged when encountered by enforcement officers, particularly throughout the Border Midlands West Region. No cases of contaminated petrol have been identified as a result of these checks from June 2014 to date.

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners, who are responsible for tackling fuel fraud, that they are aware of instances in the UK earlier this year where contaminated petrol was scientifically identified.  I am unaware of any further details relating to this matter.  I am however advised by the Revenue Commissioners that there are no instances of petrol being imported into Ireland from Bournemouth.