Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The information we received in the past ten minutes has been helpful. It is about the task force. When the task force produced its report, the game changed. To be honest, we have to look at what this task force is proposing. Let us suppose I went to Riverview Veterinary Group tomorrow morning and got a dose and then I went to McLaughlin's Veterinary Clinic next door. The dose I get in Riverview is not a better product. It is the same product dispensed under the same legislation. As far as I can see, the same person administers it, namely, me. There is no logic in the argument that because a farmer gets it from a merchant rather than a veterinary supplier. The latter will ensure that the farmer administers the product differently to the animal. We are looking at this the wrong way around. If what we are hearing is true, which is that we have an issue that we need to address, then it is the same person who administers the product.

The only way this matter will be solved is if we get a dose for an animal in two years' time and we have a veterinary surgeon to give it. We will be weighing every animal. We will have a veterinary surgeon in the yard. That is the only logical way we can solve this. Does anyone in this room believe that is appropriate? Does any farmer in Ireland believe that is appropriate? Does the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine believe it is appropriate? We are at the thin end of the wedge. If we go down this line today and agree that this is the way forward, then we will have a situation where we will not have an industry. We will have plenty of veterinary surgeons because they will be dosing every calf in Ireland, but that is where it will stop. We will have no industry.

This is a major issue. The way we are going about dealing with it needs rethinking. We must consider the competent person who gives the medication, dose, pour-on or whatever. That individual is as competent in a veterinary practice as in a merchant's practice. To have a distinction between them is totally inappropriate.