Dr. Susan Steele:

We inspect on landing. During landing of vessels, there is a lot of activity. The comparison would be with an aeroplane coming in and being refuelled to go back out. We do not restrict crew members going on board or coming off the vessels while we are doing a landing inspection. We believe that the checks are more amendable to verification at sea. We have had two cases reported to the SFPA, one on inspection and one whereby an individual reported to the Howth office. We will have passed those reports on to the relevant authorities as per the memorandum of understanding.

We would have attempted to check up but were unable to verify what happened in the office case where two individuals reported to the office.