Dr. Lynn Hillyer:

Just to pick up on the point of a couple of vet assistants being present, we operate two approaches. We have inspections where we do not have a veterinary officer there because we have extremely competent experienced and highly trained authorised officers who are not veterinary officers. We have other inspections where the veterinary officers are present, so there is a mixture of approaches. Approximately five or six years ago, we switched from having inspections where a veterinary surgeon was always present because we believed we needed to achieve more coverage. That is that part of it. Regarding cost, having a veterinary officer turn out is more expensive than having a veterinary assistant. A professional veterinary surgeon is more expensive. The cost for the people involved ranges from approximately €600 for manpower, and then with added expenses, closer to €800 per visit. It it nearly double that if a veterinary officer is included.