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

Amendment No. 72 continues. "....may only be exercised by an inspector of the Minister" which the Deputies propose to be a vet. I can understand why the Deputies have tabled the amendment but it would have a knock-on consequence for ports and inspectors who are on a farm when they come across a matter that needs to be addressed. I do not suggest that a vet will not be involved in putting in place a medium or permanent solution. Of course a vet will have to be involved to identify the disease and the veterinary Acts will deal with the powers of a vet in those circumstances. I am trying to deal with the initial powers that an authorised officer will need in order to detain a vehicle or animals because he or she has reasonable grounds to believe that there is a significant disease risk.