Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

To be clear on this, I can talk about the advice that I got within my own Department, which states that the facts are not so clear as to provide a sufficient degree of probability that a prosecution would succeed, given the legal standard of proof beyond reasonable doubt. It further states that it is also relevant that the quota system is now abolished and therefore there is no merit in taking a case in order to encourage others to obey the law in this matter. It goes on to state that the full superlevy of €143,000 was ultimately paid in this case and therefore there was no loss to the national or EU purse, and that taking an uncertain prosecution would be more likely to expose the State to costs. Taking all of these factors into account, it recommends against prosecution. That is the advice I have.

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