The Revenue’s defaulter list was published this week for the final quarter of 2015 and it showed that eight farmers were fined a total of €32,500 for the misuse of marked mineral oil. This is essentially the use of green diesel in a vehicle which is intended for the use of white diesel.

In total, 35 farmers and those in the agri sector, eg contractors, were fined €108,000 in 2015. The Irish Farmers Journal collated the figures for all of 2015, which showed that farmers are among the worst offenders for being caught for the misuse of marked mineral oil.

The average fine for being caught and prosecuted was just over €3,000 in 2015, with the highest fine being paid to a Co Donegal farmer. Noel Devine, with an address of Newmills, Letterkenny, was fined €14,000 in the final quarter of 2015 as four charges were brought against him.

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A spokesperson for the Revenue Commissioners previously confirmed to the Irish Farmers Journal that farmers are not a specific target for Revenue agents for the misuse of marked mineral oil. However, anecdotal evidence would suggest that there has been an increased presence by Revenue officials at marts in recent years.

Drop on 2014

While farmers were among the main offenders for the misuse of market mineral oil, the fines in 2015 were down on 2014. In 2014, a total of 45 farmers and those in the agri sector were fined a total of €127,000.

In 2013, 47 farmers and people from the agri sector shared a cumulative fine of €108,000.