Ms Niamh Muldoon:

I will deal with some of the questions and I will ask Mr. Ó Scanaill to come in on some other matters. In response to Deputy Martin Kenny, whom I thank for his questions, the Veterinary Council has no role in ownership. It has never had a role in ownership and it will not have a role in ownership into the future. It is a statutory body and it oversees the quality of the services delivered by its registries. The Deputy referred to profit focus.

The Veterinary Council of Ireland will be very strong in its role in ensuring the integrity and quality of the provision of veterinary medicine and services will always remain of the highest standard.

The Deputy queried the legal advice received. As a body corporate, the Veterinary Council of Ireland received advice in 2017 and 2018. It is very informed and engaged. It is very aware of the importance and significance of the role it plays and takes no decisions lightly.

The Deputy is correct that there is one programme of undergraduate education in Ireland. The Veterinary Council of Ireland accredits programmes of education, but it is not within its gift or control to initiate new programmes. It is outside its control to increase the number of registrants. I can say there is very good communication with UCD on the programme of education delivered. All members will acknowledge the standard of graduates produced in Ireland in the field of veterinary medicine.

The Deputy referred to the conflict of interest with board members. I am happy to confirm that the Veterinary Council of Ireland takes all decisions as a body corporate. No one member carries particular interests. There is a mixed profile around the table and all members elected and appointed as public interest representatives wear public interest hats when sitting at the table.

Senator Conway-Walsh talked about the geographical spread of veterinary surgeons and nurses and the pathways to qualifications. I do not want to repeat myself, but there is one programme of education accredited by the Veterinary Council of Ireland and it is delivered by UCD. As I said in my opening statement, the council is about to embark on the development of its corporate strategy. Pathways to qualifications, the geographical spread of veterinary surgeons and nurses and all of the data available to the council may well be covered in the strategy for its role, influencing policy in the Department and otherwise in the future. That is a matter to considered in the strategy, work on which has yet to commence. Ultimately, the strategy will be determined by the council.

Deputy Corcoran-Kennedy asked whether the council would seek further powers to extend its remit. It would be wrong for me to predict how the council will act. The strategy will be developed later this year. The council is precluded from acting in respect of ownership, but it will use all of the regulatory tools at its disposal to ensure continued high standards in the practise of veterinary medicine. The consultation embarked on by the council in recent months has illuminated several aspects for the council to consider in its strategy and in the future. Therefore, in that sense it has been very beneficial.