Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

301. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will instruct the Garda Síochána fraud squad to investigate the issue of milk quota irregularities involving a person (details supplied) in County Kildare and a company involving 500,000 l of milk. [36323/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy is aware, upon conclusion of the investigation of this case I instructed that the relevant papers be sent to the Chief State Solicitors Office for advice on whether offences had been committed and if so, the possibility and likelihood of a successful prosecution. The CSSO subsequently appointed a Prosecuting Counsel to examine the facts of the case and this Counsel’s report was forwarded to my Department. My Department subsequently met with the Senior Counsel to discuss the report. Having regard to Counsel’s opinion, and to all of the circumstances in this case, including the fact that there was no financial gain for any of the parties involved, my Department recommended that no further legal action be pursued and I accepted this recommendation.