Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

That is fine. Obviously Dr. Corkery has expertise in this area. One of the points he made to support that exclusion was to say that a vet - only a vet it would appear - can assess the herd needs into the future or assess resistance on the part of the animals based on the assessment of the dung, for example. Could the responsible persons not also offer such a service if they are included in the legislation to participate in the NVPS? There should not be any contention, assertion or inference that that is not possible because they are not veterinary surgeons.

As was said earlier, we need to know how long it will take for the Department to assess the opinion which seems to be the only avenue to afford the opportunity for the responsible persons to participate in the NVPS. As it stands, they will not be participating. When is that opinion expected to be assessed and responded to? At that point it might be appropriate for the Minister of State and his officials to come before this committee again because he will be in a position to prescribe the legislation and the committee can pass its judgment on it thereafter.