Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach. I must say that it is much fairer that I am let in first, as the usual Chair usually keeps me until the end.

I thank Deputy Cahill in the first instance for bringing this legislation to the Dáil. I commend him on ensuring it has gotten this far. I said when we were dealing with it in Private Members' time in the Dáil that this is one of the few situations where we have an opportunity as legislators to address a problem before it becomes a big problem. That is welcome. I presume we will have an opportunity to hear from voices that might have concerns as well. While instinctively I think that the debate in the Dáil would indicate that there is cross-party support for this legislation, we want to ensure that the legislation is fit for purpose.

Part of the problem has been that when this type of corporate ownership model begins to take effect, it takes quite a number of years before it is seen to have a profound impact. In Britain, for example, in 1999 there was virtually 0% ownership by great corporates. By 2009, that increased to 10%. Then, in the subsequent decade, it increased to 50%. It can clearly be, therefore, a slow burner, but can end up having a profound impact. Do we have any sense yet as to what the trajectory would likely be? Where would the pressure be felt first and most acutely? Deputy Cahill has talked about the issue of 24-7 care. This was a particular concern in Donegal, where we see a glimpse of what this type of ownership model would mean.

My second question relates to where there are, or could be, what we might call "corporates". However, in some instances, vets might own multiple practices and they are currently in place. What would the impact of this legislation be on them? Is there an ability to provide a timeframe to resolve any anomalies that might be there?

I have a political question for Deputy Cahill. When we are dealing with the concept of other veterinary medicines, legislation and particularly issues with regard to licensed traders. We want to find a resolution to that particular issue, where licensed traders were not able to dispense their products. We saw an instance where this legislation was not passed. Does the Deputy have a sense of the compounded impact of all that, in terms of the services that are currently in place in rural communities, vis-à-visbeing what we could end up with?