Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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No. I am just countering the Deputy's point. I told him at the beginning we had not made a decision. We have a new legal opinion, which is being considered. I am just replying to the Deputy's specific point. He painted a picture of a farmer going to a vet looking for a prescription for use on the same day. I am making the point that a prescription will last 12 months and that, in certain instances, farmers will look for it in advance of when it is needed.

Regarding the number of vets, surveys have been done and the number of vets in the country is increasing. There are more now than there were in 2019, when there were 2,948. That number has increased to 3,302. Various vets have different roles, but the most recent survey showed that 95% of farmers had a vet within 20 km of them. That information has been reconstituted and the Department is working with the Veterinary Council to undertake a repeat of the study to get more up-to-date figures. The figures I cited are quite recent, though. This is not to say any decision has been made. I am just addressing the specific points the Deputy raised.