Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)

I thank the Chair for allowing me to attend as a guest today. I also thank the witnesses for being here. There is a very striking pattern of non-compliance by North Cork Creameries outlined in the interagency report. This was referred to in the EPA's opening statement, by Senator Noonan, by Deputy Eoghan Kenny and by Mr. Arnold in his opening statement. Given those repeated breaches in respect of wastewater treatment between June and August of this year and the more long-standing pattern of non-compliance over several years, it sounds like they are at the upper end of seriousness for regulatory breaches. Mr. Ryan mentioned that the EPA regulates 900 sites, of which four are on a priority list. North Cork Creameries were on that list. He also mentioned regulatory cases where the EPA secured very substantial fines and, in one case, a custodial sentence. How close to indictment has the EPA come with regard to North Cork Creameries in respect of this chronic pattern of non-compliance?