Ms Niamh Muldoon:

The role of the regulator must be remembered here. It is not within the gift of the Veterinary Council to force the hand of any registrant, for example, two vets in partnership in County Kerry to provide particular services. That is not open to us.

We cannot control every facet of every practice around the country. We oversee and supervise the integrity of the services provided through access to the register for vets and veterinary nurses, education, continuing professional development and fitness to practice. It is just not within the gift of any regulator to control every facet of every practice all over the country.