Paraic Brady (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As I said when the Department was here, we have bandied the word “simplification” around. When it comes to prescriptions and dealing with the farming groups, and I speak personally on this, every farmer knows they have overused prescriptions. I can and will accept that. I was probably one of them myself. The reality is most of us are doing faecal samples in our herds. Our vets are on call 24-7. In fairness to the vets in Longford, I have to compliment them. There is always a vet there when you need one. Whether it is your vet or a different one, there is always a vet, and that has to be acknowledged. I have to be clear. My point for this whole thing is there has been an overuse. I will admit to that. However, when we go back to faecal samples and what can be sold per licence or what cannot be sold for merchants or in the veterinary practice, will Mr. Geraghty not accept that the vet’s place is on the ground, treating animals? We are currently overburdened in the veterinary practice where we have a spike in TB. The vets are on-call 24-7. The vets in the sector are overburdened. It was said there are 3,600 vets in the whole of Ireland. It was admitted there is an intention for that to increase in time and that there is a shortfall. This is a question. We have seen that 54% of the practices are using the Department daily. The reality is the other 46% are not using it. Whether we like it or not, they are overburdened with work now – 73% or 74% was mentioned. Does Mr. Geraghty envisage that we will get to a point where up to 80% or 90% of veterinary practices will use the Department?