Ms Caroline Garvan:

Yes. The Department funded a TASAH in 2022-23 for parasite control, and this year the Minister announced €8.3 million to fund 30,000 biosecurity TASAHs. Under that, a parasite control programme can be developed, and, in the context of that programme, if there is a need, a vet can write a prescription.

I want to mention as well non-therapeutic use, and I fully accept the points made. It is very confusing, and the Department has developed guidance because it was used because the intention was that the vet has only information, no visit to the farm, and is prescribing for sub-clinical disease. If you have not been on a farm and an animal has a disease, you cannot prescribe responsibly, so we will define subtherapeutic use. The guidance will go out in the coming days. We will do what needs to be done to ensure that vets are clear what that means in order that they can prescribe any product that has been licensed for treatment or prevention, so there will not be a lack of clarity on what that means.