Ms Niamh Muldoon:

As I referenced, we are the independent statutory body tasked with regulating the veterinary professions. We operate registers for 3,600 veterinary practitioners and 1,250 veterinary nurses, and oversee 775 veterinary practice premises. We act in the public interest and in the interests of animal health and welfare and public health.

Our main and most relevant purpose before the committee today is to deal with our code of conduct. It is a code of professional conduct that is binding on all vet nurses and vets, in particular, in the context of the privilege of prescribing veterinary medicines.