Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The other point Mr. Reville raised was the incorporation of the name of the RPII in some form into the name of the EPA to reflect that it is a merger of the two as opposed to the RPII being subsumed into the EPA and to have the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland on a statutory footing in primary legislation. I realise from where they are coming on that and Mr. Reville set out the argument for that quite well. On a personal level, I must disagree with his last answer but that is not what we are here to discuss today. In the context of the matter before us, what is the number of staff in the RPII? I do not know if Mr. Reville is aware of the number of staff in the EPA and it would be helpful if he had that figure. Is there a concern that if the RPII is merged, amalgamated or subsumed into the EPA, the expertise and grades within the RPII will diminish over a period of time and the effectiveness of the office in terms of its level of expertise and competence will dissipate?