Lynn Boylan (Sinn Fein)
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I welcome the witnesses. Ms Muldoon made an important distinction between those who are carrying out the practice of artificial insemination who are not qualified and veterinary practices. She mentioned there were District Court proceedings, two of which were in regard to non-veterinary practices. In February, a parliamentary question was tabled to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine about concerns around surgical artificial insemination. The Department responded that it was not aware of any animal welfare issues regarding surgical artificial insemination. That is on the public record as recently as 15 February this year. I am glad we are all in the same room now and we are very much aware of the issues around the growth of these fertility clinics.

I have a question for the Veterinary Council of Ireland in regard to the practice of surgical artificial insemination. Regardless of whether it is carried out by a vet, is it a practice we need to consider banning by way of following the British model? It is an invasive procedure. Tim Kirby, a practising vet, appeared before the committee. He told us that, for the veterinary practitioner, the priority is to act in the best interests of animal welfare because there are risks that come with general anaesthetic and so on. Do we need to move to the British model and ban the practice of surgical artificial insemination?