Dr. Sharon McGuinness:

There is a range of responses an inspector can make on a site and these include issuing verbal and written advice. A report of inspection is actually a bona fide request. Failure to comply with that is an offence and we can, and do, follow up on that when we ask for particular requirements. There is then enforcement improvement and prohibition notices.

The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, which is what we operate under, is criminal legislation and evidence needs to be gathered. If the evidence is not sufficient to bring forward an improvement or prohibition notice, then it is not possible to issue one. There are a range of measures and it is important that we consider the matter in the round and give the right advice.