Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In theory, the witnesses are saying a lay corporation can buy a veterinary practice and run it. This has been done in a number of cases and in other cases people are preparing to do it. These practices are then outside the regulations. In theory, the way we could get around this is if the witnesses came together and went to the people with all of the money and told them they would front the practices as vets. They could then do the very same thing except they would have qualified vets. My point is Veterinary Ireland's real opposition is to mass ownership of veterinary practices by the big guys taking over and pushing out the small guys. Is that where the witnesses are coming from?