Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for attending. There have been a number of high-profile busts by the Department's special investigations unit which have led to prosecutions. Two notable cases come to mind which have been highlighted, the Philip Fenton case and the Pat Hughes case. Those involved speak of long hours, sometimes days or weeks, spent outside vets' premises or in trainers' yards, with people from the Department gathering evidence and intelligence. I understand that the unit does not just investigate the equine sector but also other matters. According to figures reported by RTÉ, it carried out at least 115 investigations in 2012, 34 in 2018, and eight in the first half of 2020. Will Dr. Smyth give details and confirm how many investigations were carried out in 2020 and to date in 2021?