Mr. Colm Forde:

Deputy Ring asked if I was sure that no other member state is availing of it. I am not aware of any other member state aside from the UK that is availing of the derogation, but I will look into it for the Deputy. As far as I am aware, we are in tune with every other member state.

We have tried to get the point across a number of times in terms of the negotiation of the regulation. When the negotiations were finalised, anti-parasitics in Ireland under the regime that was negotiated could still be supplied without a prescription, so nothing would have changed. The only thing that has changed is that extensive research and analysis have now been done, which is in the HPRA task force report and shows there is evidence of resistance. That means we no longer meet the derogation criteria allowing those products to be sold without a prescription. At the time the regulation was finalised the status quowas still provided for.

To respond to Deputy Nolan, I did not mean to suggest that farmers looked for this regime to be changed. We were merely highlighting the potential benefits of the secure electronic prescribing system for farmers. I apologise if we made that suggestion.

As my colleague said, we will respond in writing to the other questions.