Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman. I must apologise as I have to go to another meeting shortly and I will not be able to stay for the entire meeting. In reflecting on the statements from the witnesses and where all of this debate is going, I have given this issue some consideration. When I stand back from this, it strikes me that at the core of this debate, which we must never lose sight of, is human health, the human food chain, animal health and animal welfare. That has to be paramount above anything else, and the link between those is critical. On the one hand, we are familiar with routine warmers and doses, and the fact people can go into distributors and buy those. It is similar to the analogy of going in to get a cough bottle in the supermarket. That is the reality. I can go and get a cough bottle, although I will not consume it, which is the only difference. It is very important we do not lose sight of the importance of the human food chain, responsible animal husbandry and animal welfare. That is the point I wanted to make.

While I will not be present for all of the meeting, and I again apologise for that, I have a question I want to ask of the witnesses on the FETAC level 6 training, of which many of us are aware. What is their understanding of the FETAC level 6 professional qualification, which is applicable to responsible persons, RPs.? I think it is at a very high level and of a very high standard. I know people who have done this training and who can administer these antiparasitic drugs, and so on. That is the issue. I am conscious that we cannot be seen to be held up in terms of vested interests, be they veterinarians, distributors or otherwise. It is important we give a range of options. I do not believe veterinary prescriptions are needed for the administration of certain drugs but there are clearly serious implications for other types of ministrations or medications. I would be interested to hear the witnesses' view on that.

I thank those who have engaged in what really is a very difficult debate, to which there are different aspects. As I said, it is important that human health and animal health and welfare are primary in any decision we take in regard to these matters.