Ms Niamh Muldoon:

I would like to add to that for the sake of information. Massey University in New Zealand is the only university offering a veterinary medicine programme in New Zealand. It is comparable to Ireland in that there are, give or take, 5,000 or 6,000 vets in New Zealand. While there is still an academic requirement, one of the initiatives which Massey University is moving towards is allowing enhanced accessibility through the extramural studies, clinical placement experience, empathy and communication skills testing, and profiling. There are other elements being trialled in other countries. Often, the objective of achieving diversity of access involves positive discrimination towards, for example, particular parts of the population, such as the Maori population, which has driven the initiative in Massey University. However, there are a number of initiatives in other countries on which we at the Veterinary Council of Ireland would be happy to liaise with our counterparts around the world, and share information with the Higher Education Authority, HEA, and this committee, as required.

I should also point out that the Veterinary Council of Ireland is wholly objective with regard to where any location might be. Our concern is around standards, the quality of the programme offering and the quality of the graduates to make sure society has the benefit of the superbly high standards we have in veterinary practice. Regardless of location, the Veterinary Council of Ireland's focus will be on standards, and standards alone.