Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)

Dr. Ryan emphasised the lack of a causal link between North Cork Creameries and the Blackwater fish kill. He referred to some conjecture in the public domain about culpability. He appeared to be responding to that. As a neutral enforcement agency, I find it unusual that the EPA would be at pains to rule out the involvement of an entity in a case of such seriousness, which is still very much open. Why did Dr. Ryan have that emphasis in his opening statement? We have heard analogies made to other types of criminal cases here today. I cannot think of any scenario in which a suspect's involvement would be ruled out by a neutral enforcement agency. Does Dr. Ryan see how that might be interpreted as in some way going out to bat for North Cork Creameries?