Ms Niamh Muldoon:

If the Deputy does not mind, we will not talk about specifics in Donegal and we will talk about an abstract or imaginary case in Athlone, Ashbourne or County Louth. As was referenced, any veterinary practice has to hold a particular licence granted by the council and one has to be a registrant to apply for that licence. The form of words approved by the council in July of this year references the clinical discretion of the registrant being paramount. That is where we see the role of the certificate holder or the licence holder. We would see that the role of the licence holder includes having full power and control over all matters relating to the practice of veterinary medicine and all clinical matters. We will not be getting into the devil of the detail in terms of company structures and it is not our concern how any business is structured. Our concern is how the practice operates, how veterinary medicine is delivered and how that service is provided. As a regulator, we have a very strong focus on making sure the service provided to the public and to the benefit of society is of a particular standard and a safe standard.