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

I do not want for it to be said in a couple of years that animals could not be put down because a vet could not be contacted for a half hour or more. The provision does not intend to downgrade the advice of vets - quite the opposite. Perhaps we should examine the situation of an authorised officer having to seek the advice of a vet and, where he or she cannot contact a vet, the authorised officer can make a decision and explain that later. I do not have a problem with that. Perhaps we will examine the matter.