Customs in island crackdown on cars using green diesel

Twelve islanders on Inishbofin are facing fines of up to €5,000 each for using ‘green’ diesel in their cars – which they use to travel less than two miles per day.

A team of Customs officials visited the island to target motorists using marked diesel and there were twelve detections, including a woman in her 80s.

The crackdown has led to fresh calls for cars which are restricted to island-only use to be exempted from the law on using green diesel.

Galway West TD Éamon Ó Cuív said the situation is “ridiculous” because generally only one type of fuel is transported to the island.

“The boats bring in one type of diesel, because transport costs are very expensive and fuel itself is so expensive when you’re buying from cans. I am calling for an exemption to made for island cars – only where they are confined to an island – to use marked diesel.

“Many of these cars would do less than 1,000 miles in a year, to go to the shop or when there is Mass on, and it’s not like islanders would be driving from one side of the island to the other.

“It cost more to send the Customs officers over to Bofin that the duty that is lost on the island from using green diesel. It makes no sense.

“Island cars are already exempt from the NCT, and they have a special motor tax rate. They should also be exempt from the green diesel law.

“I drive 1,000 miles per week – if I was using green diesel, then obviously, there’s a big loss to Revenue, but these cars mightn’t even be doing two miles in a day,” said Deputy Ó Cuív.

He said that when he was Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, he attempted to get the law changed on island cars using green diesel, but said he was prevented by “some EU regulation”.

At that point, he said the idea behind the proposal was to get islanders away from using petrol engines, as that fuel is extremely flammable compared to diesel which he described as “relatively inert”.

A Revenue spokesperson confirmed to the Connacht Tribune that a Customs team was on the island carrying out a routine operation, “primarily targeting mineral oil fraud”.

“In the course of the recent operation on Inishbofin, there were 12 detections of the misuse of marked mineral oil as auto diesel, and all these cases will be followed up with a view to prosecution.

“Marked gas oil (green diesel) attracts a low rate of excise duty; its use in ordinary road vehicles is illegal.

“Tackling shadow economy activity in all its forms, including any form of mineral oil fraud is a key priority in Revenue’s drive to maximise compliance and protect legitimate trade.

“Revenue policy is that all detections of the misuse of marked mineral oil are investigated with a view to prosecution.

“The maximum penalty on summary conviction for a first offence is €5,000. In 2015, Revenue prosecutions resulted in 313 convictions for marked mineral oil offences,” Revenue said.