The Irish Road Haulage Association (IHRA) is calling on the government to introduce a fuel rebate system as a means of combating the estimated €150m that the Irish exchequer is losing each year to illegal fuel laundering.
Under the proposals, agricultural or 'green' diesel would be phased out completely with legitimate users of the fuel switching to a rebate system whereby the price difference between fuels could be claimed back in much the same way as company car drivers can reclaim VAT on diesel. In addition to the €150m lost through criminals selling on 'washed' green diesel the new system would also save the estimated €500m it costs to dye agricultural fuel initially meaning an extra €650m each year in the government coffers.
The IRHA has previously proposed the introduction of a fuel rebate system and is meeting with the Department of Finance next week to discuss the proposal.