John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank our guests. We have reached the end of our hearing and I ask that members agree that Special Report 82 be held open until such time as we receive a full response from the Department. It appears that some people who examine the position in respect of this matter might consider the organisation to be something of a charity, particularly in light of the scope given to it in terms of rents and so forth. Perhaps our guests will provide me with an update on the position regarding Mr. Shine. I have read newspaper reports of court cases involving the Department and people it is responsible for regulating. In some instances, individuals were fined heavily in respect of free doses. I read one report about a case involving two cats in which a substantial fine was imposed. One standard applies in respect of such matters, whereas a completely different one applies in respect of the issue we have been considering at this meeting. We await the Department's comprehensive response and we hope it will arrive in a timely fashion. When it does arrive, we will deal with the special report again and, if necessary, revisit this part of it.

I thank Mr. Moran and his officials for attending.