Mr. Michael Sheahan:

No. A vet cannot do that directly. At the moment the central database works whereby the six passport issuing bodies are all linked. They populate our central database. All the information in the central database comes from them, including the microchip number, the name of the horse, the registered owner, and so on. The public or the vets do not have access to the central database as such. If somebody needs information they must come through us, if they are entitled to access information. It is not open to the public to access it. It is usually, for example, if a horse is being slaughtered or if someone has an inquiry about a horse being exported. Then he or she can contact us and we can confirm the details of the horse or whatever, as needs be.