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148 
rish fuel prices are eroding economy'
Page 9
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Despite Customs' best ids, fuel smuggling between thorn and Northern Ireland ife and the situation is get; worse. This was the stark ming given by transport Jstry representatives to Northern Ireland Affairs act Committee set up to art on the Impact of crossder fuel differentials.
Bob Armstrong from the ight Transport Association rs the differential has risen /a since they last gave dence to the commit!, enabling some Jliers to travel up to miles to refill before :y would begin to lose Iney on the trip.
"We told the commit: the situation is xling the viability of Northern Ireland onomy," says Road ulage Association of executive, Roger ig. "However, it isn't ing to be resolved by pointing more offids," he adds. King ints to see the fuel duty lowered to the same rate over the border, or as near to parity as possible. The loss of revenue could then be offset by a road pricing charge.
Buying illegal fuel smuggled from Southern Ireland is also proving too great a temptation for some drivers and the sheer size and scale of the problem prevents Customs from dealing with the problem effectively.
Only last week a fuel plant in County Antrim was closed down when it was found to be producing thousands of litres of illegal diesel.
"Hauliers are buying this Illegal fuel to be competitive," King points out, "It's such a profitable business that it can only get worse."
He compares the current situation to someone walking down the street offering out five pound notes. You have got to be pretty tough not to take them," he says.