Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I thank our guests for their presentations. Mr. Scott stated the derogation outlined in Article 105(4) is available to Ireland to use to solve this problem.

I just want to be clear on that. Can either of the witnesses say how active vets have been on the Health Products Regulatory Authority, HPRA, in recent years? I believe this can be resolved. I got a phone call from the Minister's constituency this morning. There is a difficulty at the moment because vets are situated 30 or 40 miles from people. A local co-op or pharmacist where a farmer can get the various doses might be fairly close by. There will be a huge risk to supplies crossing the Border in either direction, with a particular impact on the Border counties. Vets go across the Border at the moment.

Was any consideration given to a grandfather right? This has been discussed in England. UK officials told what we would call the qualified persons that undertaking a course would dot the i's and cross the t's. I understand that our Department decided there was no need to do this and qualified persons could work away.

I have seen doses for cattle available in veterinary suppliers as well as a veterinary practices. There was an €80 difference in the prices of the same medicine. Are pharmacists and merchants afraid of the farmers? I totally agree with everything Deputy Ring said about Europe. He could come into my party. That said, it is not all about Europe. Cattle can be out on the streets in France. A farmer who did that here would be locked up for the rest of his or her life. The problem is in the interpretation of directives. We love interpreting everything to the letter of the law. It is time we copped on. We must ensure that farmers and local veterinary suppliers, including co-ops, marts, etc., can stay in business to maintain competition in the market.