Ms Laura Burke:

It was. I will answer some of them and my colleague, Mr. O'Leary, the director of enforcement, will answer others. With regard to the confidence of the public in the EPA, the confidence of the public and the engagement of the public in environmental matters is something we have highlighted throughout the history of the EPA. With only about 300 staff there is only so much we can achieve in the protection of the environment, but we must engage with Departments, other organisations, and members of the public for everyone to realise the importance of the quality of the environment for the public and for people's health and well-being. An independent external review of the EPA, which we highlight in the briefing document, found that overall the EPA has provided considerable benefit for Ireland's environment and for the health and well-being of its people. There were also other reviews, including an independent research review of the EPA licensing regime, which found that the reduction in industrial emissions because of EPA licensing was significant, and a National Economic and Social Council review, which highlighted the fact that the industrialisation of Ireland had not resulted in environmental pollution, largely because of the work of the EPA in licensing and enforcement of facilities.