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:

What I would say to that is currently, a veterinary practice is in business. It has farmers and other consumers who use it. That will continue. If the veterinary practice is providing those consumers with the services they want, they are absolutely free to continue using that veterinary practice. We are not here saying one corporate structure is better than another. We are here saying consumers should have choice. Where consumers use a business and where it provides that service, they will continue to do so.