Paul Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I asked what was the catalyst for change. The submission states "Historically, section 54(2) of the Veterinary Practitioners Act 2005 was interpreted to prevent a body corporate from owning a veterinary practice" so from its inception until December 2017 or January 2018, the council worked with a basis in its interpretation that a corporate body would not be allowed to buy a veterinary practice. The witness said earlier that veterinary practices had been changing hands and that is no problem. It is in black and white in the report. Why was the interpretation changed or was legal advice sought to change the interpretation? As has been asked, why did the council change the interpretation of the section in the Act over two months when things had worked from 2005 to 2017 with the previous interpretation? What was the catalyst for change and why did the change come about? It is frustrating in here to see how long it takes when we try to introduce, develop or change legislation. The council will definitely be in next year's Guinness book of records in how it changed interpretation of a section of an Act over two months. What was the catalyst for that process and the haste involved?