Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 20 October 2021

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

General Scheme of the Veterinary Practice (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed)

Mr. Brian McHugh:

No. We view them as intrinsically linked. We provide advice to the Government and public bodies on issues around competition and consumer welfare. When stringent restrictions are introduced in a market preventing consumers from having choice, it is not good for consumers in the long run. It means that there will be less competition in the market and fewer places for consumers to go, and it will ultimately be consumers who suffer. We come at this from the point of view of consumers and consumer welfare.