Dr. Eimear Cotter:

That is the local authority's responsibility. Under the GAP regulations, local authorities carry out farm inspections, take enforcement actions and, ultimately, prosecute, if warranted. They are responsible, with assistance from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, which carries out some inspections for them, for driving compliance with water quality legislation in Ireland. On the EPA and its oversight role of local authorities and their performance overall, we have highlighted in recent years an issue around ensuring that compliance with water quality legislation is increased and the necessary actions are taken at local authority level. Local authorities are responsible for ultimately enforcing the GAP regulations.