Mr. Colm Forde:

This goes back to the Deputy's question about our correspondence with the Commission. We are more than happy to share the correspondence that we have had with the Commission. It is quite similar to the response we got in the answer to a question posed by Mr. Chris MacManus MEP at the European Parliament, which basically said that if people other than vets were allowed to issue veterinary prescriptions before January 2019, that can remain in place. Under our 2007 statutory instrument, the only people in Ireland who were allowed to issue veterinary prescriptions were vets. Therefore, we do not qualify for that derogation. As I have said, we have submitted that query to the Attorney General to seek final clarity because of the range of views expressed. I think I have addressed the questions raised.