More than 2,500 drivers have been caught using agricultural green diesel in domestic vehicles since 2020, with nearly €2m paid in settlement fees and a further €1.3m in fines handed out by the courts. Tax is paid at a much cheaper rate for marked gas oil, or green diesel. It can be used for farming purposes, but not on road vehicles, and is dyed green to deter its misuse. Revenue samples fuel in vehicles at checkpoints and figures supplied to Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly show more than 130,000 samples have been taken since 2020, with 2,500 falling foul of the law. A total of 493 fines have been handed out by the courts since 2020 to a value of over €1.3m.

Source: Irish Examiner April 07, 2026 08:52 UTC