Mr. Daragh Quinn:

I applaud the intelligence and understanding shown by all members of the committee. They have a good understanding of the issue at stake. Deputy Paul Kehoe highlighted the shortage of vets. That is a serious and well-documented issue in the west. The vets in practice will now be inundated with requests for prescriptions. They will be required to interpret fecal egg count tests and many other simple tests that are well within the capability of suitably qualified persons. These responsible persons and pharmacists are very capable of interpreting a fecal egg count test and making an appropriate recommendation, and are qualified to do so. The products concerned are primarily worm treatments, fluke treatments, sheep dips, pour-on medicines and horse wormers that are commonly available in all our co-ops, LMs and pharmacies.

There tend to be price differentials between merchants, co-ops, pharmacies and vets. There is competition within the market. There are significant differences in the prices of prescription-only medicines. Unfortunately the issuance of prescriptions is greatly restricted at the moment. Not many vets issue prescriptions for antibiotics. Up to several years ago, subject to a valid veterinary prescription, I would have occasionally supplied products such as Alamycin injection, which is a first-line antibiotic treatment. I used to retail that at approximately €5 per bottle. An equivalent product supplied by a vet will cost €15, €16 or €17. That may be reflective of my particular area, but I imagine that a wider examination would reveal a price difference of 100% or 200% to the farmer. If that principle was applied to all the anthelmintic drugs, flukicides, coccidiostats, wormers and sheep dips it would make farming very challenging. The bottom line, the margin that is left to the farming community, would be diminished further.

I applaud Deputy Ring regarding his point on small family businesses. Many small rural merchants are family-owned and family-driven. They provide employment and are largely rural-based. There are very limited employment opportunities in the west. We do not have too many Apples, Googles or Amazons. Unfortunately, we are all based here on the west coast. This regulation is going to affect rural Ireland and rural employment. This will impact on the committee members' constituents. I refer also to rural isolation. Island communities and marginal communities on peninsulas in west Kerry or west Donegal are quite remote from their vets. However, a merchant that can supply these medicines may be accessible to them. I hope that as elected representatives, members will show the courage not to be hoodwinked or taken in. They represent their electorate, the people of this country. I call on them to be brave. This directly affects 150,000 Irish farms. It affects those farmers and their families as well as the people who work on those farms such as seasonal workers and people who come in to help with silage. These are the type of people who gain employment from farms. This is a much bigger issue than the concerns of pharmacists or licensed merchants. If we were to add it all up, this probably affects the best part of 400,000 or 500,000 people. It is a very significant issue. It will require the political will of the Minister to avail of the derogation.