John Paul O'Shea (Cork North-West, Fine Gael)

It is regrettable that the IFI came out with a public statement on that occasion and reiterated halfway through the first line that IFI is engaging with Uisce Éireann, the EPA and Cork County Council. It asked anglers to refrain from fishing on the affected stretch of the river and it also asked that people would wash, clean and dry their equipment at that stage. On reflection, and talking to our colleagues here in the Marine Institute, Dr. Downes said that based on the evidence it received in a phone call, it was a fungal infection. It is my understanding that Dr. Downes suggested that is why the Marine Institute took the decision to say it should treat the other aspects of its business rather than come to investigate. If he was advised that the cause was a pollutant event, would he have changed his mind and come sooner?