Dr. J.G. Beechinor:

I thank the Deputy for the question. Page 38 of the report deals with this topic. Basically, neither licensed merchants nor prescription control on its own can prevent resistance. These are a step in the direction of ensuring the products we use comply with legislation. If we do not do this properly, there is a cost to everybody. Most farmers recognise this and realise it does them no favours to use products they do not need to. By turning this around, we can preserve the efficacy of the products and it will end up putting money in farmers' pockets because they will not have to spend money unnecessarily. In some cases we do not even need to rely on medicines and we can work through quarantine and other tools.

The literature indicates that anybody intending to deliver an antiparasitic should look at which species of parasite are the most important to consider for the age and type of animal, what stages of the parasite are likely to be present, which drugs provide the proper spectrum of activity, what host dynamic properties exist and how they will play out, which animals require treatment, and whether drugs that are intended for use are still effective against the parasite species. What will be needed in future is evidence-based prescribing, with knowledge of the farm, the system and the parasites.

As I mentioned earlier, we should also include factors such as whether we are having a dry summer or weather conditions that have changed such that another parasite could be responsible for the scour, slow growth or whatever. It is about using a range of diagnostics, supported by farmer and farm knowledge.

With regard to access to medicine, we have no issue with licensed merchants and we do not regulate them. We agree that knowledge of this matter is still in its infancy. There are many people, including me as a veterinarian, who know the science has moved on. Upgrading our skills is as much a challenge for veterinarians as it is for licensed merchants. Perhaps the witnesses from the Veterinary Council of Ireland will be able to assist the committee on the questions around best practice because it is an area downstream of the HPRA.