Ms Niamh Muldoon:

We must bear in mind that any veterinary practice can only deliver services from a premises licensed by the council. The holder of that licence is not the owner of the premises and cannot be a company. He or she must be on our register. Regardless of ownership, the service is delivered through somebody on our register. That person controls the licence to deliver the service and we require that they must have full clinical discretion in delivering that service. It is imperative for public health.