Ms Mary Gurrie:

The local authorities are responsible for the inspections of farms under the good agricultural practice regulation, so they are the competent authority for undertaking the inspections and any follow-up compliance. People can be cross-reported with regard to cross-compliance and it can go as far as prosecution, where it is necessary. The number of prosecutions of farmers is low, and I think there might only be one or a small number completed. Inland Fisheries Ireland can also take prosecutions where there is a fish kill or something on the severe end of the scale in terms of damage to a water body. I do not have data with regard to the number of prosecutions it has taken but I am sure it would be able to provide that.