Mr. Brian McHugh:

I am not aware of any other country in the European Union that has this ban on veterinary practices in place. This proposed legislation would be unique in Europe. It also raises legal issues, which we have discussed, in terms of the services directive. A number of corporates, as we understand it, have entered the market in Ireland in recent years and they are currently players in the veterinary sector. We have not seen evidence that that has harmed consumers in a significant way that would require this significant legislation to be brought in. We are not saying there are no issues or that particular corporate structures are the right answer. We are saying the markets should be open to choice for consumers. Where there are issues, and there may well be, the regulator should look at those and come up with proportionate solutions.