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

I see the opposite as it relates to antiparasitics especially. I have considered the background and the manner in which this has been discussed, debated, analysed and the ultimate legislation required to enact it. The initial opinion of the Attorney General has been reconsidered in light of new information in the form of a legal opinion furnished to the Department. I have considered it coldly and objectively from afar. I note that 800 vets are employed by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, but no RPs or pharmacists and that the expert group set up by the Health Products Regulatory Authority, HPRA, to investigate and advise on this issue did not include any merchants or farming organisation but five of the seven members were vets. It is heavily weighted in favour of vets.

Northern Ireland is continuing as it was. We are interested in and espouse an all-Ireland and an all-island economy that we committed to in the Good Friday Agreement and there are synergies in many aspects of governance, including agriculture. It is imperative that our product becomes one in order to sell it across the world and the protocol provides for that and now we have a difference on this issue. We hoped they would be able to come together to reach a satisfactory resolution, one which does not impact on commercial outlets and the farmers who are dependent on their expertise. If it is the case that Veterinary Ireland believes that RPs need continuous upgrading to meet the demands that are imperative under this regulation, that should be the road to follow. Mr. Geraghty does agree with that and that is where we are at odds.

It is the responsibility of the committee to assess his views and expertise as they relate to the regulation, to talk to other stakeholders and to make a recommendation to the Government. As it stands and as the preparations are raging ahead by the Department, there is no agreement. Where there is no agreement, it is a difficult situation and everyone suffers. We do not want that to be the case. We hope that some effort will be made, even at this late stage, to create the sort of synergies we want to see across this island, across Ireland, and to be in a position where we recognise the status quocannot continue, but the RPs are adequately trained and their training is reviewed on a regular basis. Everyone can have their tuppence worth but only when people who are impacted by this are also represented and can make recommendations to us. They are not at present and it is causing the sort of conflict we have. I know that it is an opinion and Mr. Geraghty has his.