Mr. Peadar Ó Scanaill:

That is exactly where the code comes in. The veterinary practitioner cannot act outside the code. The Act is very clear that it is not the corporate. As Deputy Penrose has said, the corporate is completely excluded from providing the service. It is only the vet who can provide the service, as specifically stated in section 54(2)(c). Vets cannot assist somebody else to provide a service. The only person who can perform veterinary medicine and provide that service are the vets working in a practice. As I said, a practice is not described in the Act. What is described is the certificate of suitability, which is given to a vet and a vet only if it is veterinary medicine he or she is giving. That is the premises and the vets who are working in it are listed on the certificate of suitability. That is the service to the farmer. Vets cannot enter a contract that affects them in any way or diminishes their answerability to the Veterinary Council of Ireland, the code and the basic core principles of veterinary medicine. It is not that we do not care. We are acting with the registrants and the service they are providing at and from the premises for which we have given a certificate of suitability. The ownership issue is dragging us into an area where we are not on solid footing because the Act does not mention ownership or even a practice. We heard that people have bought practices. People have always been involved in practices and there have been investors but they cannot be influencers. The people running the show, in control and with their hands on the wheel are the vets.